Dare Babalola
The Presidency has faulted claims by former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intends to become a life president.
Responding in a post via his X handle, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, described the comments as “unfounded speculations” and “political fabrications.”
Onanuga stressed that Tinubu remains an avowed democrat with no intention of exceeding the constitutional two-term limit.
“President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027,” Onanuga wrote, describing El-Rufai’s alarm as unfounded and a product of political hallucination.
Onanuga said El-Rufai appeared unsettled by the warm reception Tinubu received during his visit to Kaduna last Friday, insisting that the President continues to enjoy strong support in the North.
He argued that the former governor’s narrative of northern disaffection with Tinubu had collapsed under the weight of reality.
“After reports of the grand reception President Tinubu received in Kaduna last Friday, El-Rufai was clearly surprised by the depth of support the President continues to enjoy in the North. This stands in stark contrast to his narrative that the region has abandoned the President,” Onanuga stated.
He added that El-Rufai’s claims of a “life presidency” plot were nothing more than a desperate attempt to distract from the futility of efforts by the former governor and his new political associates to derail Tinubu’s anticipated re-election in 2027.
He further urged Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, to engage with his predecessor, saying El-Rufai “could benefit from professional counselling to steer him away from his recent political fabrications on Tinubu and 2027.”
The Presidency maintained that President Tinubu is committed to democratic principles and to leaving office at the end of his constitutional mandate.
