Presidency dismisses el-Rufai’s claim Tinubu seeks ‘life presidency’

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has faulted recent remarks by Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna governor, describing them as unfounded and misleading.

On Saturday, el-Rufai had warned that Tinubu could attempt to cling to power like Cameroon’s Paul Biya if Nigerians fail to unite against him in the 2027 elections.

Biya, 92, has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and recently announced plans to seek re-election in October, which would extend his 43-year stay in office.

Reacting in a post on his official X page, Onanuga said el-Rufai had resorted to making “unfounded claims and speculations” about the president.

He argued that the former governor appeared to have realised the futility of efforts by his new political associates to stop Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“The plot is proving to be unattainable,” Onanuga said, calling it “a mission doomed to fail.”

He added that el-Rufai was unsettled by the “grand reception” Tinubu received during his visit to Kaduna last Friday, which contradicted the claim that the north had abandoned the president.

“Instead, he resorted to spreading further unfounded stories, including the claim that President Tinubu intends to become a ‘life president’ after 2027 — a speculation that is baseless and absurd,” Onanuga wrote.

“President Tinubu is a democrat who does not intend to stay in office beyond May 28, 2031, when re-elected in 2027.”

Onanuga also suggested that Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna may need to intervene.

“El-Rufai could benefit from some professional counselling to steer him away from his recent hallucinations and political fabrications on Tinubu and 2027,” he added.