Like him or hate him, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is increasingly becoming a political enigma in Nigeria. For almost two years of President Tinubu’s administration, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) operated like a party without clear structures or processes. This continued until El-Rufai publicly called out both the party and the president in a recent television interview.
Within 24 hours of El-Rufai’s now-viral interview on Arise TV, the very foundation of the APC was shaken. Party leaders scrambled to repudiate his allegations while simultaneously organizing an emergency APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. In what seemed like a direct response to his criticisms, the APC held its first NEC meeting in almost two years in Abuja. On the same day, the party also convened a National Caucus meeting, which passed a “vote of confidence” on President Tinubu.
As a strategic move to counter the ripple effects of El-Rufai’s scathing remarks, the APC National Caucus meeting became a stage for reassurances to Jagaban that “nothing dey happen!” However, many of the lawmakers and governors present at the meeting are not even certain of their own reelection, let alone guaranteeing the president “massive votes” in their constituencies. President Tinubu, being an experienced grassroots mobilizer, is unlikely to take such verbal assurances at face value. He understands that certain opponents should never be underestimated—especially a formidable figure like Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
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It is beginning to feel like déjà vu. El-Rufai now appears to be playing the role against President Tinubu that Tinubu himself once played against former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2010 and 2015. Unless El-Rufai is brought back into the fold, Tinubu may face significant hurdles in securing a second term. While the APC has reportedly initiated efforts to reconcile with estranged members, the likelihood of Tinubu and El-Rufai working together again seems slim.
The only option left for President Tinubu and his handlers may be to prepare their political war machine—because this Mallam does not take prisoners.
SCRIPT CREDIT: Facebook.com / Uzogara Tobechukwu
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