The Presidency has lashed out at former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai over his claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could be plotting a “lifetime presidency” if not voted out in 2027, describing the statement as baseless, desperate, and a clear sign of frustration.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Monday, accused El-Rufai of hallucinating and peddling falsehoods to undermine the President’s rising political stature. He insisted that Tinubu remains a committed democrat with no interest in extending his tenure beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms.
Onanuga dismissed El-Rufai’s allegation as absurd, stressing that Nigerians across the country, including in the North, have continued to show affection and support for the President. He noted that Tinubu’s recent visit to Kaduna, where he received a warm welcome, was proof that El-Rufai’s narrative of dwindling northern support was fabricated.
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“El-Rufai has obviously realized that his associates’ plot to stop President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 is dead on arrival. His talk of a lifetime presidency is nothing but a desperate attempt to remain politically relevant,” Onanuga said.
The Presidency further suggested that Governor Uba Sani should reach out to his predecessor, adding that El-Rufai “may need professional help to guide him away from his recent delusions and political fabrications.”
The fiery exchange has since sparked heated debates, with Nigerians split between condemning El-Rufai’s remarks and questioning the intensity of the Presidency’s response.
