Obasanjo's Memoir Haunts El-Rufai as Tinubu's Aide Destroys His Credibility Ahead of 2027 | READ DETAILS

.... Obasanjo's Explosive Words Resurface as El-Rufai Faces Backlash for Daring Tinubu

By All Facts Newspaper | 25/06/2025

The political fireworks in Nigeria's ruling elite escalated sharply on Wednesday as Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, issued a scathing response to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, over his recent remarks predicting a grim re-election chance for President Tinubu in 2027.

El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), had stated in an interview with Arise TV that Tinubu would need a miracle to secure a second term, citing a dismal 91% disapproval rating from polls allegedly conducted by his political movement across key regions, including the North and South-East. He added that even in Lagos-Tinubu's stronghold-the president's approval had plummeted to 22%.

Onanuga Fires Back With Obasanjo's Bombshells

In a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter), Onanuga didn't just dismiss El-Rufai's claims-he launched an all-out attack on the former FCT Minister, using quotes from ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo's memoir, My Watch, to describe El-Rufai as a "pathological liarÔÇØ and someone who is "loyal to no one but himself."

"Nasir's penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,ÔÇØ Onanuga posted, quoting Obasanjo. "He lied brazenly, including to me, his colleagues, and so-called friends.ÔÇØ

Obasanjo, who appointed El-Rufai as FCT Minister during his tenure, accused him in the book of betraying close family members, including his uncle and half-brother, in pursuit of self-interest. He further wrote that El-Rufai suffers from "small man syndromeÔÇØ, a psychological term often used to describe individuals who overcompensate due to perceived physical or emotional inadequacies.

The Battle for 2027 Begins Early

The tension between the two political heavyweights has been brewing beneath the surface, but El-Rufai's exit from the APC in March and his alignment with an emerging coalition targeting the 2027 presidency appears to have deepened the cracks within Nigeria's political elite.

While Onanuga did not directly address the polling data El-Rufai cited, the focus of his rebuttal was character assassination, dredging up past allegations of disloyalty, deceit, and self-aggrandizement to discredit El-Rufai's credibility.

"The only person El-Rufai has ever remained loyal to is El-Rufai. He's not to be taken seriously,ÔÇØ Onanuga indirectly inferred through the Obasanjo quotes.

Critics Divided: Courage or Calculated Mischief?

El-Rufai's harsh verdict on the Tinubu administration has drawn mixed reactions across the political spectrum. While some see him as a truth-teller unafraid to speak against his former allies, others argue that his political ambition and new alliance with the opposition may be fueling what they see as strategic misinformation.

Regardless of the motive, the battle lines for 2027 are being drawn early, and the war of words between powerful insiders is signaling a storm ahead for the ruling party.