In a statement poised to create significant reverberations throughout Nigeria’s political sphere, Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has emphasized that no politician in Nigeria is immune to being voted out of office. This assertion, seen by many as a subtle critique of President Bola Tinubu and his administration, was made on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
Bashir El-Rufai’s bold declaration underscored the power of the electorate and urged Nigerians to dismiss intimidation tactics. He stated, “Nobody is too big to be elected out of office by the people. It will happen & wallahi nothing will happen. So forget all these intimidations flying up and down. Let us be patient.”
The subsequent remarks by Bashir hinted at President Tinubu, suggesting that some northern elites might be dissatisfied with his leadership. He further added, “Even IMF & World Bank no go save una that time. Political strategist una. That one na for Lagos [State],” directly challenging Tinubu’s political influence, particularly in Lagos State where Tinubu previously served as governor.
Though Bashir did not explicitly name any politicians, his message was directed at those he believes are guilty of poor governance. He firmly stated, “Wallahi, none of you will force anyone to support this utter failure of governance disguised as useless, dangerous ethnocentric political strategy.”
These remarks from Bashir come amid internal conflicts within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). THE WHISTLER reports that Bashir’s comments follow alleged betrayals within the party. Segun Showunmi, a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused President Tinubu of betraying key APC leaders who were pivotal in his 2023 election victory. Showunmi highlighted the case of Nasir El-Rufai, whose ministerial nomination by President Tinubu was rejected by the Senate, and Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi State, who is currently facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bashir El-Rufai’s statements signal a growing tension within Nigeria’s political landscape, underscoring the volatile dynamics and the potential for significant changes in the nation’s governance.
