Politics

Ministerial slot: How Tinubu betrayed me – El-Rufai

Published

3 years ago

August 15, 2023

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

Ministerial slot: How Tinubu betrayed me – El-Rufai

President Bola Tinubu genuinely promised Nasir El-Rufai, the recently-resigned governor of Kaduna State, not merely a ministerial position but also the portfolio of the new Federal Ministry of Energy, notwithstanding the continued lamentations of many Nigerians.

After receiving the unequivocal guarantee from Tinubu, El-Rufai rallied his team and created a plan that inspired Tinubu ahead of his nomination.

“Specifically, the president-elect promised el-Rufai, in no uncertain terms, the new ministry of energy.

“Thereafter, el-Rufai mobilised his team and produced a blueprint that wowed Tinubu, about three weeks before his ministerial nomination,’’ according to the former governor’s media aide, Ibraheem Shehu Musa in an opinion piece.

A disappointed el-Rufai, accused Tinubu of duplicity in the the comedy of errors which trailed his nomination and screening both at the Senate and the security agencies.

He stated: “Afterwards, the comedy of errors began, first by a security chief who, in a hurry to nail el-Rufai, breached official communications protocol. First, he wrongly sent a letter to the senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters, instead of the senate president.

“Second, the letter was signed by a director of State Security Service and not the president. Third, the issues raised were rehashed political altercations and selective interpretations.

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“Besides, the ban on el-Rufai from holding public office, a recommendation of a house committee, has been quashed by the court. The senate, on mere allegations, refused to confirm El-Rufai as minister.

On the president’s alleged duplicity on the matter, the media aide said: “However, when El-Rufai met with Tinubu, the usually forthright and straight-talking president, according to reports, pleaded for time to deal with the matter.

“Tinubu, at that point, started being evasive like the politician that Tony Wilson sang about. El-Rufai, on his part, has turned his back on the ministerial nomination, gone back to school, to learn, unlearn and relearn, to someday serve the public in another realm.

Accusing politicians of reneging on their promises as their stock in trade, Ibraheem stressed:“In the 70s, Tony Wilson sang about politicians and in that ballad, he highlighted their antics in ‘I Like Your Style’. Politicians, according to him, are men of many words and in other words, they say much but deliver little.

“At worst, they renege on their promises with reckless abandon. However, not all politicians are the same and clearly, Malam Nasir el-Rufai is of a different cut. Largely, he walks his talk and oftentimes, he shoots from the hips, firing from all cylinders, taking no prisoners as he does.

“In Nigeria, this exception is a double-edged sword and for El-Rufai, it has been cutting both ways, either as a minister or governor of Kaduna state. Indeed, the political class, entrenched interest groups and the upper crust of society see him as a defiant outlier.

“Conversely, ordinary people, development partners and civil society applaud his consistency, achievements and derring-do. Significantly, his solid achievements, belling the cat at critical times and taking on difficult assignments, are well documented in his public service career.’’

Recalling El-Rufai’s antecedents as Minister of Federal Capital Territory under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo,

Ibraheem said:“For example, remodelling the Federal Capital Territory, reengineering governance and the Kaduna Urban Renewal Project stand out in recent times. In fact, in the run-up to the presidential primaries, the 2023 election and the emergence of President Bola Tinubu, his altruism came out in bolder relief.

“Indeed, El-Rufai’s principled position, insisting on the right thing and patriotic intervention, dates back earlier, when the polls were three years away. At this point, let me share a privileged insight.

“In 2020, the Kaduna state government, in early January, organised a retreat for political appointees, where special advisers, senior special assistants and special assistants converged at Kaduna Business School. The team, for two days, listened to experts and bureaucrats, who walked us through the nuances of public service, its code of conduct and defined boundaries.

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“Besides, the appointees bonded and exchanged banter amidst lectures, tea breaks and group tasks. El-Rufai, on the last day, graced the event and shared his diverse experiences, fielded questions from the team ranging from family life, professional career and governance.’’

On the 2023 presidential race, the media aide recalled: “Specifically, Malam Nasir El-Rufai was asked, amongst other questions, whether or not he would contest for the presidency in 2023. Point blank, the governor answered in the negative and his argument, without equivocation, hinged on justice, equity and fairness.

“The north, by the year 2023, would have held power for eight years at a stretch and its leaders, in the interest of national unity, should ensure power shift to the south. The north, he argued further, is known for keeping its word and in any case, power rotation is one of APC’s building blocks.

“Indeed, follow-up questions were asked but El-Rufai stuck to his guns, rooting for national cohesion, peaceful coexistence and the paramountcy of respecting covenants in politics. The retreat, in the manner of Chatham House, was a platform for frank and honest discourse, so El-Rufai wasn’t playing to the gallery.

“However, in spite of his position, individuals and groups started mounting pressure on El-Rufai to run for the presidency. Predictably, he kept a deafening silence and continued serving the people of Kaduna state that voted for him. Undeterred, one Nassiriya Organisation, a northern-based group, instituted a suit in October 2020, to compel him to contest the 2023 presidential election.

“In fact, its national leader, one Garkuwa Babuga, said that Nassiriya has members in 21 states and overwhelmingly, they had endorsed El-Rufai based on “his track records of achievements”.

“Unyielding, El-Rufai kept a stiff upper lip over the call, insisting on a power shift to the south. Regardless, a lot of permutation started making the rounds, from the probable to the ridiculous, aimed at muddying up the waters. At once, the idea of an El-Rufai and Amaechi ticket, El-Rufai and Yemi Osinbajo running together, and El-Rufai and Kayode Fayemi, the former Ekiti state governor gunning for presidency, were all on the cards.

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“In fact, the Aso Rock cabal and its allies, in desperation, reached out to Goodluck Jonathan, the former president and a PDP stalwart to boot, to recontest on the APC ticket. Besides, they pencilled down CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for the presidential ticket but the whim didn’t fly.

“In June, on the eve of the convention, the cabal conscripted Ahmed Lawan, the senate president at the time, for the presidential primaries in 2022. In fact, Abdullahi Adamu, the then APC national chairman, was the enforcer-in-chief of the project. Hurriedly, he convened a National Working Committee meeting and unveiled Lawan as the anointed candidate.

“Earlier, the Northern Governors’ Forum, at El-Rufai’s prompting, had met and insisted on power shift to the south. Indeed, foisting Lawan on them, as Adamu attempted, presented a fait accompli and they were at a crossroads.

“More so, the APC helmsman claimed that President Buhari, in a one-on-one meeting, had endorsed Lawan’s choice.

Again, El-Rufai came to the rescue, by leading the calvary charge against the cabal. In particular, the northern governors met Buhari, notified him of their resolution on the power shift and asked for his position on Ahmed Lawan’s anointed candidacy.

“Categorically, the then-president washed his hands off the phantom anointment and by so doing, cleared the doubt of APC faithful. Thereafter, El-Rufai rallied support for Tinubu, ditching friendship and other political alliances as a result. Afterwards, Tinubu won the primaries on the first ballot and by a wide margin.’’

“Significantly, El-Rufai campaigned vigorously for Asiwaju, and engaged focal groups and the media, to sell Tinubu to the electorate. In the end, the APC presidential candidate won the election and thereafter, Tinubu sent emissaries to El-Rufai, to firm up his commitment to work with him,’’ Ibraheem added.

Ministerial slot: How Tinubu betrayed me – El-Rufai

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2027: Shehu Sani Breaks Silence on Claims Kwankwaso Is Working for Tinubu

Published

17 hours ago

October 17, 2026

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2027: Shehu Sani Breaks Silence on Claims Kwankwaso Is Working for Tinubu

Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani has defended Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso against allegations that the former Kano State governor is working to advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, blaming supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for what he described as a smear campaign following Kwankwaso’s political split with Peter Obi.

Sani made the remarks in a post on his verified X account while reacting to accusations by the ADC Presidential Campaign Council that Kwankwaso was undermining opposition efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“The ADC guys are still bitter about the Peter and Kwankwaso divorce, hence the smear that they are working for the ruling party or the President,” Sani wrote.

The former lawmaker argued that Obi and Kwankwaso were established politicians with independent political identities and should be allowed to make their own decisions about political alliances without facing hostility from former allies.

According to him, political figures should have the freedom to associate with political parties and coalitions of their choice or withdraw from them without being accused of working against the interests of the opposition.

“No consideration to the fact that they are all accomplished politicians with their own independent track records, and have the right to associate and disassociate,” he added.

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Sani further criticised political groups that, in his view, attempt to control their members or punish them for choosing a different political direction.

“This is the price they will continue to pay for refusing to be supplementary, and disposable cargoes in someone’s container,” he stated.

He added: “Political parties shouldn’t be cultish groups where one can’t pull out in peace.”

The comments came after the ADC Presidential Campaign Council accused Kwankwaso, who is now the running mate to Obi under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), of weakening the opposition through his criticism of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Kwankwaso had called on Atiku, the ADC’s presidential candidate, to step aside for Obi, prompting a strong reaction from the ADC campaign council.

In a statement, the council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, described Kwankwaso’s intervention as reckless and self-serving, alleging that it could deepen divisions among opposition politicians and benefit Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ologbondiyan argued that opposition figures should concentrate on challenging the Tinubu administration rather than attacking one another or attempting to influence the choice of presidential candidates in rival parties.

The ADC campaign council also questioned Kwankwaso’s political calculations, alleging that his actions were driven by personal ambition and future political negotiations rather than a genuine effort to strengthen the opposition.

However, Sani’s response challenged the suggestion that Kwankwaso’s departure from the ADC-led opposition arrangement amounted to support for Tinubu. He maintained that political disagreements and changes in alliances should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of collaboration with the ruling party.

The disagreement reflects the growing tensions among opposition politicians as parties and political leaders position themselves for the 2027 elections.

Obi and Kwankwaso’s move to the NDC followed their departure from the ADC-led opposition coalition, which had sought to bring prominent political figures together behind a common platform to challenge Tinubu.

Their exit has complicated efforts to maintain a united opposition front, with competing presidential ambitions and disagreements over candidate selection continuing to shape political discussions.

For now, the allegations that Kwankwaso is advancing Tinubu’s interests remain a claim by the ADC campaign council, while Sani has publicly rejected that interpretation. Neither the accusation nor Sani’s response, on its own, establishes that Kwankwaso is secretly working with the President.

The exchange underscores the widening political differences among opposition figures as the race towards 2027 gathers momentum.

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2027: Kwankwaso Signals Fuel Subsidy Comeback as NDC Vows to Crash Petrol Prices

Published

2 days ago

October 16, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Kano State governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

2027: Kwankwaso Signals Fuel Subsidy Comeback as NDC Vows to Crash Petrol Prices

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has signalled its willingness to consider restoring petrol subsidy if it wins the 2027 general election, with its vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, promising to explore all necessary measures to reduce fuel prices and ease the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

Kwankwaso made the declaration during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, October 15, saying the party’s leadership was united on the need to make energy more affordable.

The former Kano State governor said he, the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the party’s leader, Seriake Dickson, had aligned their positions on addressing the high cost of energy in the country.

According to Kwankwaso, the party would consider whatever measures were necessary to bring down petrol prices, including a possible return to fuel subsidy.

He argued that the cost of petrol had become a major burden on households and businesses, contributing to higher transportation fares, rising food prices and increased operating costs for companies.

The NDC candidate said an incoming government would need to examine available policy options to reduce the pressure on Nigerians, particularly low-income earners and small businesses struggling with the rising cost of living.

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Kwankwaso also identified corruption and irregularities in the petroleum industry as issues that must be addressed to ensure Nigerians benefit from reforms in the sector.

He suggested that reducing waste and tackling abuses could help improve the management of public resources and support efforts to make petroleum products more affordable.

The comments reopen the debate over fuel subsidy removal, one of the most consequential economic decisions taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who announced the end of the policy during his inauguration on May 29, 2023.

The removal led to a sharp increase in petrol prices, with the effects spreading across transportation, food distribution, manufacturing and other sectors of the economy.

The Tinubu administration has defended the decision as part of broader economic reforms intended to reduce the government’s subsidy burden and redirect public funds towards other priorities. However, the resulting increase in living costs has remained a major concern for many Nigerians.

Kwankwaso’s statement suggests that the NDC would be prepared to revisit the policy if elected in 2027. However, the party has yet to publish a comprehensive framework explaining how a possible subsidy scheme would operate, how much it would cost or how the government would fund it without creating additional pressure on public finances.

Questions also remain about the proposed safeguards against corruption, the method of determining eligible beneficiaries and whether any intervention would involve a blanket subsidy or a more targeted arrangement.

The NDC’s position is expected to feature in the wider debate over economic policy ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as political parties outline their plans for addressing high petrol prices, inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

For Nigerians facing elevated transportation and household expenses, the central issue will be whether the party can translate its promise of cheaper petrol into a practical, transparent and financially sustainable policy.

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Adeleke, Davido Face Backlash Over Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election Bid

Published

2 days ago

October 16, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: Davido Says Nobody Can Force Presidential Candidate on Him, Claims He Defeated 17 Governors With Phone

Adeleke, Davido Face Backlash Over Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election Bid

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and his nephew, Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, have come under criticism on social media following renewed attention to the governor’s reported support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

The controversy centres on the perceived contradiction between Davido’s earlier opposition to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State and his uncle’s subsequent political alignment with Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The backlash intensified after Davido’s earlier social media comments criticising APC supporters in Osun resurfaced, prompting some Nigerians to question whether the Adeleke family was applying different political standards at the state and federal levels.

During the build-up to the August 2026 Osun governorship election, Davido reportedly declared that anybody supporting the APC in the state was an “enemy of progress”. The singer had openly campaigned for his uncle, who contested the election on the platform of the Accord Party.

Adeleke subsequently won re-election, while his reported support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition has reopened debate about the political positions previously expressed by the governor and his nephew.

The governor’s reported involvement in Tinubu’s re-election campaign has attracted attention because of the fierce political contest between the Accord Party and the APC during the Osun governorship election.

Reports published on October 15 indicated that Adeleke had been named among the coordinators of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign structure in Osun State. The development prompted renewed scrutiny of his political relationship with the president.

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Adeleke had previously explained that his support for Tinubu was based partly on their shared Yoruba background and his desire to encourage the president to continue federal infrastructure projects in the South-West.

In an interview reported in August, the governor said his support was not the result of a prior agreement with the president. He also defended his engagement with Tinubu as an opportunity to discuss the development of Osun State.

The explanation has not ended the debate, with critics questioning how the governor’s current position aligns with the political messaging used to mobilise support for his re-election.

Reactions circulating on social media included accusations of political inconsistency, with some users arguing that the family had opposed the APC in Osun while appearing willing to support the party at the national level.

One commenter argued that supporters who stood behind Adeleke during the governorship contest deserved an explanation for the governor’s subsequent political alignment.

Another questioned the apparent difference between Davido’s earlier criticism of APC supporters in Osun and his uncle’s reported backing of Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Other commenters, however, framed the development as a reflection of the shifting alliances that characterise Nigerian politics, arguing that politicians frequently cooperate with former opponents when their interests converge.

The reactions reflect competing views about political loyalty, the expectations of supporters and the freedom of elected officials to make strategic decisions after an election.

Davido’s role in the controversy stems from his outspoken support for his uncle during the Osun governorship campaign. The singer had publicly criticised the APC and defended Adeleke’s administration, making his earlier posts a focal point of the latest debate.

With his uncle now associated with Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, some social media users have called on the musician to clarify his position.

However, the criticism directed at Davido is largely linked to his previous public statements and his relationship with the governor. It should not be taken as evidence that the singer has changed his political position or endorsed Tinubu’s re-election.

The dispute highlights the challenges political figures may face when their alliances change after elections, particularly when their supporters have been mobilised around strong opposition to a rival party.

For Adeleke, the debate raises questions about how his support for Tinubu will be received by voters who backed him on the Accord Party platform.

For Davido, the resurfacing of his earlier comments illustrates how statements made during election campaigns can continue to shape public perceptions long after the polls have closed.

The development also comes amid growing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, when parties and political figures are expected to pursue alliances to strengthen their electoral prospects.

Ultimately, whether the controversy will affect the Adeleke family’s political standing in Osun remains uncertain. The online backlash, however, has brought the relationship between political loyalty, electoral promises and shifting alliances back into public debate.

The criticism quoted in this report represents the views of social media users, not established findings of wrongdoing. The available information does not establish that Adeleke or Davido personally insulted Osun voters or independently verify claims that people died specifically because of their political support for the governor.