Arewa Group Lambasts El-Rufai, Accuses Him of Heating Up Polity

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A Northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has noted that a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai was unnecessarily heating up the polity, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The position of ATT followed el-Rufai’s interview last Monday with Arise Television,  where he spoke on some issues, including the political situation of Kaduna State.

The ex-governor also said that Nigerians should not believe the narrative that the National Assembly rejected him as a ministerial nominee, but that it was President Bola Tinubu that did not want him.

But in a statement yesterday by the Chief Convener of ATT, Muhammad Yakubu, the group asked el-Rufai not to play God as long as 2027 election is concerned, saying that, “only God knows tomorrow”.

It added:  “We noted that in that interview, eI-Rufai also said there is anger in the North, but we want to tell him that if there is such anger it was being created by him. For el-Rufai to say that Nuhu Ribadu is interested in 2031 presidency, to us is an absolute non-issue because 2031 belongs to God.

“Nobody knows how many of us will be alive by 2031. So, he is trying to get into the Almighty God’s jurisdiction. Since E-Rufai himself has said that Nigerians should wait till 2027, and see who is more popular between him and Uba Sani in Kaduna, why then is he in a hurry to talk about 2027.

“Let him then wait till 2027 and let’s see what happens. Instead of him heating the politics unnecessarily, let him wait till 2027 if God spares our lives. Nasir El-Rufai, should stop acting like a thirsty crying baby, and allow peace to reign within the political community of our dear country.”

It advised el-Rufai to put the disappointment of not securing a ministerial appointment behind him as every disappointment is a blessing, recalling that el-Rufai’s disappointment dates back to July 2023, when  Tinubu submitted his list of ministerial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

“El-Rufai was among the prominent names on the list. However, his nomination hit a roadblock as the Senate withheld his confirmation, citing security-related petitions filed against him by some Nigerians.

“We are happy that Nuhu Ribadu did not join issues with el-Rufai as he brushed off el-Rufai’s allegations, saying he was too busy for media wars. We pity the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai because ministers were appointed in August 2023, and we believe it’s time for him to move on.

“ He cannot continue to behave like a child, as if someone forcefully collected his biscuits and ran away from him, leaving him to cry endlessly. It is natural for him to feel hurt and bad about being excluded.

“ However, as the president acknowledged in his recent tribute to him, Nasir actually played a significant role in helping to install President Tinubu. Still, if he is not part of the government, that does not mean he must bring down the roof.

“The president has nothing against him as a person and his political ambition. He has been in public service since 1999, and we believe he was hurt when he was not appointed a minister. That explains why he has been making these statements of incitement all over the place.

“El-Rufai had also hinted at ditching the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). But who cares, after all he was in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before moving to APC. So, he is at liberty to move from one party to the other. It is his choice,” the group added.