By Eshiorameh Sebastian, Abuja
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has publicly suggested that former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai requires “professional counselling,” accusing him of spreading “unfounded claims” and “hallucinations” about the president and the 2027 elections.
The strongly worded statement came in response to recent remarks attributed to El-Rufai, including claims that President Tinubu intends to become a “life president” if re-elected. Onanuga described the allegation as “baseless and absurd.”
Onanuga asserted that El-Rufai had been left surprised and unsettled by the widespread support shown to President Tinubu during his recent visit to Kaduna State.
He suggested that El-Rufai had only resorted to making outlandish claims after realizing that efforts to undermine Tinubu’s support in the North had failed.
“It is increasingly evident that El-Rufai has recognised the futility of attempts by his associates in his new party to prevent President Tinubu’s likely re-election in 2027,” Onanuga stated. “This plot is proving to be unattainable, a mission doomed to fail.”
He emphasised that President Tinubu is a democrat who has no intention of remaining in office beyond the constitutionally allowed limit, should he be re-elected. “President Tinubu does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031,” Onanuga clarified.
The presidential aide also called on Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to intervene, suggesting that his predecessor required guidance. “Governor Uba Sani may wish to reach out to his predecessor, as El-Rufai could benefit from some professional counselling to steer him away from his recent hallucinations and political fabrications.”
Spear News reports that El-Rufai claimed that President Bola Tinubu may attempt to become a “life president” if not voted out in 2027, comparing his style of governance to Cameroon’s long-serving leader, Paul Biya.
El-Rufai made the remarks during the weekend when former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar paid him a solidarity visit in Kaduna. He accused the Tinubu administration of “disgraceful” authoritarian tendencies, centralising power rather than promoting federalism.
The former Kaduna State governor urged opposition leaders to unite behind Atiku to ensure Tinubu’s electoral defeat in 2027, emphasising the need for a united front to safeguard democracy. Atiku commended El-Rufai’s courage and called for continued focus on ballot-box change.
El-Rufai, a former member of the ruling APC left the party few, months ago to join other opposition leaders to form a coalition proposed to wrestle power from the hands of sitting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
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