Politics
Tinubu 2023: The Unending El-Rufai Headache
By Chuks Ekpeneru
When Nasir El-Rufai in the course of a seminar to celebrate the 60th birthday of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola last weekend put Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on the spot, he again highlighted the unceasing political acrimony between the two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“I want to congratulate my brother, Ogbeni (Aregbesola), on his birthday. You know I’m your man any day,” El-Rufai said.
Continuing, he jabbed, “I’m not Asiwaju’s man and you are Asiwaju’s man, but I am your man any day. Asiwaju and I have differences but you and I have no differences.”
Tinubu on his part has been a little restrained even congratulating El-Rufai on his 60th birthday.
Tinubu in a message said that El-Rufai’s reputation as a public servant always eager to confront challenges was commendable.
Tinubu said that El-Rufai served Nigeria to the best of his abilities with unquestionable zeal.
That message from the former Lagos governor came at a time Nigerians were trying to digest an indirect attack from El-Rufai which some say is aimed at Tinubu.
Mr. El-Rufai had at a forum organised by the Bridge Club in Lagos hit hard at political godfathers, describing them as an affliction to the people. He also educated Lagosians on how to defeat Godfatherism.
He defended his comment later saying “what I know for sure is that we have retired godfathers in Kaduna and I have told those that asked the question that there are six million voters in Lagos. And only one million voted in the last elections.
While some of the governors who belong to same camp with El-Rufai have not directly taken a jab at their National Leader, the Kaduna governor has not hidden his position, what some political observers say is a fall-out of who gets what in 2023.
Former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, a well known ally of Tinubu is however quick to rise up saying el-Rufai as a product of the system he now wants to criminalise.
“It is not about defending Tinubu or responding to el-Rufai’s statement about defeating godfatherism, I am defending common sense. You just don’t wake up one day and say you want to become a politician; you would need people who are more experienced to mentor you. El-Rufai learnt from some mentors, if you want to grow, you must learn”, the APC leader stressed.
In the coming days ahead, the battle will intensify, the plots will thicken all for what will be a vacant Aso Rock Villa by 2023.
However, Yobe State Governor, Mala Buni has said that the ambitions of el-Rufai and Tinubu will further strengthen the party.
“I don’t think their ambition will affect the party. You should know that for now, there is no party in Nigeria that is as formidable as the APC. The APC also controls more states than the other political parties.”
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