TINUBU WON’T BE LIFE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENCY SLAMS EL-RUFAI’S CLAIM
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By Shodayo Sunmisola Michael
The Presidency has repudiated assertions made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, suggesting that President Bola Tinubu may endeavor to retain authority beyond constitutional boundaries.
The press reports that El-Rufai cautioned that Tinubu could seek to replicate Cameroon’s Paul Biya, who has presided since 1982 and recently announced his intention to contest again at the age of 92.
The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory indicated that Tinubu may be in “power for life” if Nigerians do not unify against him in the forthcoming 2027 elections.
El-Rufai articulated these comments on Saturday during a visit from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who came to express solidarity following an assault by political thugs during the inauguration of the African Democratic Congress in Kaduna.
“The sum total of this is that we are facing an evil of such a large proportion in the history of this country that if we don’t come together and end this Tinubu administration by 2027, Tinubu will try to be our Paul Biya. All the signs are there, this is how Paul Biya started,” El-Rufai stated.
In reaction, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, characterized the remarks as “unfounded speculations” and “political fabrications” in a post via his X account on Sunday night.
Onanuga claimed that El-Rufai seemed perturbed by the warm welcome Tinubu received during his visit to Kaduna last Friday, asserting that the President continues to enjoy substantial support in the North.
He contended that the display of backing contradicted El-Rufai’s assertion that the north has forsaken the president.
He wrote, “After reports of the grand reception President Tinubu received in Kaduna last Friday, El-Rufai was clearly surprised by the depth of support the President continues to enjoy in the North. This stands in stark contrast to his narrative that the region has abandoned the President.
“In response, he resorted to spreading further unfounded stories, including the claim that President Tinubu intends to become a “life president” after 2027—a speculation that is baseless and absurd. President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027.”
Onanuga also implied that El-Rufai’s political associates were disillusioned by the President’s increasing acceptance nationwide, asserting that their attempts to hinder his re-election in 2027 were “doomed to fail. ”
He further encouraged Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, to engage with his predecessor, stating that El-Rufai “could benefit from professional counselling to steer him away from his recent political fabrications on Tinubu and 2027.”
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