Nasir el-Rufai, former FCT minister and the immediate past governor of kaduna State, has remained silent since the time he left office last year. His failure to scale the screening of National Assembly as ministerial nominee from kaduna State has further alienated him from Tinubu’s government.
It could be recalled the upper chamber which initially screened el-Rufai later rejected him, citing security report against the former governor. But el-Rufai was unmindful with the appointment. When his name was featured prominently in Tinubu’s ministerial list, it seemed, he had plans to go back to school. No wonder, he remained quiet and Nigerians missed his voice when the government he helped to install pursued some policies believed to be harsh.
One must have expected el-Rufai to comment on some vexed national issues under Tinubu’s new government such as fuel subsidy removal and dollars exchange unification. These twin policies have caused untold hardship to Nigerians. Alas, el-Rrufai has since turned to a spectator, watching afar from the classroom. Surprisingly, in a dramatic twist, el-Rrufai who was off from political scene has suddenly resurfaced, albeit controversially.
It started with his visit to the national headquarters of Social Democracy Party, (SDP). He also hosted National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in his house. In a quick succession, el-Rufai paid another visit to the suspended Bauchi Senator, Abdul-Ningi. These series of visits have elicited suspicious from political analysts.
Daniel Bwala, former spokesperson of Atiku/Okowa 2023 campaign organization, stated that el-Rufai was planning to decamp to SDP and challenge Tinubu in 2027 general elections. However, Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesperson for the former governor, says the recent visit of his principal to the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja was without any political colouration. Besides, in another rumour or speculation, former presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, is being tipped as another possible decampee to join the third force being mulled by el-Rufai.
While 2027 general election is still far away, el-Rufai’s strategic meeting is still fishy. As the saying goes, there is “no smoke without fire”.
Nasir el-Rufai is one of the best brains the country can parade. He came to limelight in 1999 when President Olusegun Obssanjo appointed him as Director General, Bureau for Public Enterprises. Under the Obasanjo privitization policy, el-Rufai supervised the sales of hundreds of public companies. In 2003 after Obasanjo returned for the second term, el-Rufai was made Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT). During his stint as FCT Minister, el-Rufai spearheaded the transformation of the federal capital, stepped on the toes of some powerful forces.
After Obasanjo’s tenure in 2007, el-Rufai, who was in bad book of the late Yar’Adua government, went into an exile and returned when Jonathan became the president. In 2015 general elections, el-Rufai was instrumental to the coming of the Buhari government. He played a prominent role towards the success of the merger which birthed the APC and subsequently led the party to victory.
In 2023, when some forces or cabals tried to stop power rotation to the South, including the naira redesign policy that nearly ruined the party’s chances, el-Rufai did not only go against them but also support Tinubu’s bid for presidency. That was why many Nigerians were surprised that el-Rufai’s name had been edged out from Tinubu’s cabinet. While his former SSG, Balarabe Abbas, replaced him, it seemed there was no love lost between Tinubu and el-Rufai. His deafening silence since the inauguration of the government last year attested to this.
The posers begging for answers are: Is el-Rufai’s new fond love with SDP a tactical move to dump APC as being speculated? Who are those to join him in his new party? Will el-Rufai third force dislodge Tinubu in 2027?
In politics, nothing is impossible. el-Rufai’s decision to ditch APC may not be unconnected with humiliation he suffered during his screening in the senate and the inability of President Tinubu to save his head. In addition, el-Rufai may have been disappointed by the Tinubu administration’s policies and programs which generated discordant voice among Nigerians.
Nasir el-Rufai’s third force can actually harvest its membership from political associates, those who have grudges against the Tinubu government and above all Buhari’s loyalists who are not being carried along. Whether el-Rufai’s new political movement will become a threat or not to Tinubu’s second term remains to be seen in the coming years.