I’m not sure I would support President Tinubu for re-election- Ex Kaduna Governor El-Rufai

In a candid interview on ARISE TV’s ‘Prime Time’ on Monday, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai revealed that he is uncertain whether he will support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

He also expressed doubts about his continued membership in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by that time.

El-Rufai’s comments have sparked speculation about his political future and the direction of his relationship with the APC.

El-Rufai said: “I don’t know (if I will support Tinubu in 2027). I will evaluate the situation at the time, and I will consult widely.

“When I supported President Tinubu before the primaries, it was a decision that the leaders of APC took in Kaduna. Who do we support? We succeeded in ensuring that power goes to the south, and we know that all the northern candidates will go nowhere, Yahaya Bello, Ahmed Lawan.

“But among the southerners, who do we support, they know those that are my friends. Tinubu was not my friend. I was never close to him.

“But the consensus of the APC in Kaduna was that we should support Bola Tinubu because he is the one that is more likely to win. Politicians make these calculations.

“In 2027, I’m going to consult the same people. We are going to take the same decision, which candidate to support and in which party.”

Asked if he would support a Southern candidate in 2027, El-Rufai said: “Now I’m a private citizen. I’m not sure I would be in the APC 2027, so I cannot answer that question… Now in 2027, I will not be a governor, so I will not have the sort of clout that I had in 2023.”

NSA Ribadu reacts to El-Rufai’s allegations, 2031 presidential ambition

In a decisive rebuttal to recent political allegations, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has firmly dismissed rumors suggesting he is plotting a presidential bid for 2031.

Ribadu reiterated that his entire focus remains on the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and national security efforts, and he has no interest in political distractions.

The controversy erupted after Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, accused Ribadu of being behind a plot to tarnish his reputation.

In an interview with Arise TV, El-Rufai claimed that Ribadu, along with Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), was orchestrating a smear campaign against him, allegedly driven by Ribadu’s supposed ambition to vie for the presidency in 2031.

Responding to the accusations, Ribadu took to his X platform to clarify the situation.

“I am too preoccupied with my national assignment to engage in a media fight with Nasir El-Rufai or anyone else,” Ribadu stated.

“If my silence is misunderstood as consent, I would have ignored him entirely. However, I believe it’s essential to set the record straight.”

Ribadu explained that, despite frequent provocations, he has always refrained from speaking ill of El-Rufai out of respect for their past professional relationship and their families.

“I have never spoken negatively about Nasir on record. I will not begin today. I urge the public to ignore El-Rufai’s unfounded claims,” he added.

The NSA also addressed the presidential ambition rumours head-on.

“To be clear, I have never discussed running for president in 2031 with anyone. My energy is entirely focused on the success of President Tinubu’s administration and ensuring the advancement of Nigeria,” Ribadu emphasised.

In his defense, Ribadu called on El-Rufai to allow him to continue his national duties uninterrupted. “I urge Nasir El-Rufai to let me focus on my important responsibilities. I, in turn, do not involve myself in his affairs,” Ribadu concluded.

Despite El-Rufai’s persistent accusations, including claims that Ribadu was the mastermind behind a political agenda to undermine him, the NSA claims to remain steadfast in his commitment to national security and governance, urging the public to disregard such political distractions.

Four gunmen killed as NSCDC operatives engage armed bandits in gun duel

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Katsina Command has killed four suspected terrorists in Dutsinma Local Government Area of the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, SC Buhari Hamisu, confirmed this in a statement on Monday. He said two separate attacks were repelled.

According to him, operatives repelled an attack by suspected armed bandits who stormed the permanent site of the Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA) on Feb. 21.

“The gallant men of NSCDC attached to the university successfully neutralised three criminals, including the notorious Ayuba Buzaru, who stormed the institution as their route,” he said.

The team also rescued three kidnapped victims and recovered some rustled goats, the NSCDC spokesman revealed.

He added that NSCDC personnel, in a joint operation with the police, repelled another attack on Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Federal Government Special Grains Reserve (Silo) in Darawa.

Hamisu stated, “The valiant operatives overpowered the criminals, neutralising one suspected armed bandit, while others fled with gunshot wounds.”

He confirmed that the body of the suspected criminal had been deposited at General Hospital Dutsinma.

“The armed bandits have been attempting to attack the Silo, which stores grains distributed to people in Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto,” he added.

The Corps personnel also dispersed another group of suspected armed bandits at Gago Village, near Isah Kaita College of Education in Dutsinma.

“The Command remains dedicated to promoting safety and security for the people of the state and Nigeria as a whole, while protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure,” he said. (NAN)