Tinubu Failed to Replicate His Lagos Achievements at the National Level — El-Rufai

Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna, has expressed disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s performance, saying he failed to replicate his achievements as governor of Lagos at the national level.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai acknowledged that he and other leaders were aware of Tinubu’s past controversies, including allegations of certificate forgery and involvement in cocaine trafficking in Chicago .

But despite these controversies, that he, El-Rufai supported Tinubu in 2023, hoping he would lead Nigeria effectively. However, Tinubu’s failure to deliver has been disappointing. El-Rufai stated,

“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well, because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges” .

El-Rufai also addressed claims that he betrayed Atiku Abubakar, saying their relationship began in a work context, and he would always speak out if he saw someone not performing well. He cited examples of his criticism of former President Buhari and his court case against the new naira policy.

El-Rufai’s comments come amid speculation about a potential political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections. He has called for opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, to join forces under the Social Democratic Party (SDP).