A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Kano State, Dr. Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has accused former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, of resorting to desperate tactics, including blackmail and spreading lies against President Bola Tinubu.
Kwankwaso alleged that El-Rufai’s actions were targeted at undermining President Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office.
According to him, the path to Aso Rock in 2027 is already clear for President Tinubu, as no formidable political figures remain to challenge his re-election.
He maintained that all those positioning themselves for the presidency have been tested and failed, adding that none could compete with the current president in the upcoming elections.
Kwankwaso warned El-Rufai that his political manoeuvres have already failed, stressing that Nigerians and political watchers have recognised his tactics.
He described El-Rufai as “an expired politician,” citing the recent by-election in Kaduna as evidence of the former governor’s lack of grassroots support.
“You cannot discourage and check out President Tinubu out of 2027 contest the way you did to former President Jonathan in 2015, using poverty, insecurity and economic devastation, because your nefarious tendencies are known to everyone,” Kwankwaso declared.
Dr. Kwankwaso, who made these remarks in a statement personally signed and released to the press in Kano on Monday, said El-Rufai appears to have forgotten that he and his allies deployed similar blackmail strategies against Jonathan in 2015.
According to him, “It is on notice that President Tinubu has not only done much on Security, Economy and even the poverty rates in the country but he has drastically changed the narrative with many places been secured and prices of commodities been affordable.”
“The insecurity met on ground by President Tinubu is gradually becoming history, thanks to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Advisor (NSA) to the President, but people like El-Rufai are not happy with what is happening,”
Kwankwaso further challenged El-Rufai to provide evidence for his allegation that the Tinubu administration was sponsoring banditry and other crimes in the country.
“Otherwise, he should shut up and allow the Government to continue on the good things they are doing for the Country,” Kwankwaso said.
He also reminded Nigerians that under the Buhari administration, in which El-Rufai played a prominent role, insecurity and economic hardship worsened.
“In the last eight years of Buhari Government, which Nasiru El-Rufai was an active participant and advocate of supporting it, they could not wipe away insecurities, economic hardship while after meeting Dollar rates at N160 during Jonathan, they left it for Tinubu to inherit it at N1500,” he stated.
Kwankwaso concluded by praising President Tinubu’s support for the National Security Adviser, noting that “today, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu under the orders of the President and his full support, is crushing the bandits, Boko Haram and other criminals with their commandants on daily basis being killed or captured, while the Nation itself is stabilizing gradually.”
