- Safiu Kehinde
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has called for the urgent need to vote out President Bola Tinubu in 2027 as he warned of the President’s alleged authoritarian tendency like his Cameroonian counterpart, Paul Biya, who had remained in power since 1982.
El-Rufai gave the note of warning while hosting former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar at his residence over the weekend.
The ex-Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister condemned the Tinubu administration, labeling it “a disgrace to the very principles of democracy.”
He further labelled Tinubu’s struggle for democracy during the June 12 election annulment as fake, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of attempt to centralise authority at the expense of federal principles.
“Honestly sir, to me, it is even a disgrace. I mean, for people to behave the way they are behaving, it means that all the years of saying that we are for democracy and NADECO, all the claims that we are fighting for true federalism and so on—it was all a pretense, all fake again.
“Because this government (Tinubu’s administration) is trying to centralize everything instead of devolving power to the lower levels.
“The sum total of this is that we are facing an evil of such a large proportion in the history of this country that if we don’t come together and end this Tinubu administration by 2027, Tinubu will try to be our Paul Biya.
“All the signs are there, this is how Paul Biya started,” El-Rufai said.
The former Kaduna governor however hailed Atiku for his call for unity in struggle towards ousting the APC-led administration out of power.
“You are our leader, you have done this fight before, you have fought the military, you have experience in democratic governance.
“And when you and Obasanjo were in charge of this country, no one was being harassed because he had a different political feel, never, not once.
“Even President Buhari, with his military background, never did that, and here we are facing full-fledged civilians, but they are worse than any military regime we’ve ever had.
“Your call that we must unite is a timely one. I think the people of Nigeria have made up their mind that APC must be voted out. Nigerians are looking forward to his (Tinubu’s) ouster.
“We must provide the leadership and the unity of purpose that we have talked about, and then I am sure with your leadership, forbearance and diplomatic skills of bringing people together, I am sure we will reach the Promised Land.” He said.
Atiku had paid a solidarity visit to El-Rufai following an attack that occurred during the inauguration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State.
NPO Reported that thugs had stormed the venue of the inauguration and disrupted the proceedings.