The Presidency has fired back at former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, after he claimed that President Bola Tinubu is trying to turn himself into a “life president” like Cameroon’s Paul Biya.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, dismissed the statement on Monday via his social media handle. He said El-Rufai only became uncomfortable after the warm reception Tinubu received in Kaduna last Friday.
According to Onanuga, the crowd’s support for Tinubu in the North clearly showed that El-Rufai’s claim that the region had abandoned the president was false.
“El-Rufai is surprised by the massive support the president still enjoys in Kaduna. That is why he has resorted to spreading baseless stories about a so-called life presidency,” Onanuga wrote.
He added that President Tinubu remains a democrat and has no intention of staying beyond May 28, 2031, if re-elected in 2027.
Onanuga also suggested that Governor Uba Sani should reach out to his predecessor, saying El-Rufai might need “professional counselling” to avoid further political fabrications.
The exchange has since sparked debates online, with many Nigerians weighing in on El-Rufai’s bold claims and the presidency’s sharp response.
