Presidency fires back at El-Rufai, labels him part of ‘internally displaced politicians’
By Kunle Sanni –
The Presidency has dismissed former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as a political opportunist and a member of what it described as a coalition of “internally displaced politicians” following his recent scathing remarks against President Bola Tinubu.
Presidential spokesperson, Daniel Bwala, reacting to El-Rufai’s appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme, described the former governor’s criticisms as recycled rhetoric typical of opposition figures desperate for relevance.
“I listened to the interview of my elder brother Nasir El-Rufai on Arise TV tonight. He didn’t say anything new beyond the usual talking points of the opposition or their so-called coalition,” Bwala said in a statement on Monday. “Their coalition remains an association of internally displaced politicians on a wild goose chase. It is dead on arrival.”
El-Rufai, once a prominent supporter of President Tinubu, has in recent months turned into a vocal critic. In Monday’s interview, he described Tinubu’s administration as a failure and went as far as calling the president an “evil” that must be stopped to save the country from ruin.
“I just feel that having contributed to bringing this tragedy upon Nigeria by helping Tinubu emerge as president, I should now help remove this evil I believe will destroy Nigeria if left unchecked,” El-Rufai told Arise TV viewers.
The former governor has in the past openly acknowledged backing Tinubu’s presidential ambition despite, according to him, being aware of allegations ranging from certificate forgery to a historical cocaine case—claims the president has repeatedly denied and which have never resulted in a conviction.
El-Rufai’s attacks come amid growing speculation about his role in a budding opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections—a move the Tinubu camp has sought to downplay as inconsequential.
