Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has set the stage for a dual confrontation against President Bola Tinubu, and both battles will take place in the courtroom and the arena of public opinion, MUK TV has learned .
According to an exclusive report from Vanguard, the impending clashes are poised to happen in legal chambers, where El-Rufai aims to refute allegations of being a security threat; and on the political battleground, where he could pose a significant hurdle to the president’s 2027 reelection bid.
Factors fueling the brewing conflict are whispers of his purported humiliation by the Tinubu camp, branding him unfit for ministerial duties due to security concerns.
It would be recalled that after the ministerial screening in July 2023, the Senate conspicuously omitted El-Rufai’s name from the list confirmed Ministers, citing non-security clearance.
Sources close to El-Rufai had told MUK TV that former Kaduna governor felt betrayed by President Tinubu, whom he said did not do enough to save him from the national embarrassment.
“If Tinubu wanted him [El-Rufai] to be a Minister, the Senate would’ve confirmed him. We’re talking about a two-term governor, who has undergone every security check,” one of the sources said.
As the political animosity intensifies, El-Rufai, fondly known as Mallam, has embarked on a flurry of engagements across Northern Nigeria, aligning himself with opposition figures against Tinubu’s government and stoking anticipation among political circles.
Aside his visit to the leadership of Social Democratic Party, which ignited a speculation of defection, he also held a meeting with Senator Ningi, who was suspended by the Senate for alleging that Tinubu’s government was running a fabricated 2024 budget.
Despite his instrumental support for Tinubu’s ascendancy to power, El-Rufai finds himself at odds with the administration, reportedly sidelined from ministerial duties on grounds of security clearance failure.
The shockwave reverberates across political echelons, given El-Rufai’s pivotal role in galvanizing Northern governors’ support for Tinubu and securing electoral victories in APC-deficient Southwest states.
An anonymous senior government official from the Southwest attests to El-Rufai’s financial backing of APC campaigns, highlighting his substantial contributions to the party’s success.
Undeterred by setbacks, El-Rufai emerges as a vocal critic of the Buhari administration’s policies, notably challenging the naira redesign initiative, citing ulterior motives aimed at undermining Tinubu’s political influence.
Amidst mounting scrutiny, El-Rufai’s inner circle affirms his resolve to vindicate his tarnished reputation through legal recourse, leveraging his extensive international network to safeguard his integrity.
In parallel, El-Rufai has strategized to sway public opinion against Tinubu, positioning himself as a formidable adversary in the lead-up to the 2027 electoral fray.
However, uncertainties loom over his future trajectory, raising speculation on whether he will vie for candidacy or mobilize against the president, echoing his past critiques of Tinubu’s political dominance.
El-Rufai’s evolving stance towards Tinubu underscores the fluid dynamics of political alliances, oscillating between collaboration and confrontation in pursuit of divergent ambitions.
