A public affairs analyst, Usman Okai Austin, has launched a scathing attack on former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over his recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the ex-governor as a “bitter politician desperate for relevance.”
El-Rufai, who recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), had suggested in a series of interviews that President Tinubu would not secure re-election in 2027, citing a betrayal of the APC’s founding principles and alleging dictatorial tendencies in the administration. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from several quarters, including Okai.
Reacting on Monday, Okai said El-Rufai was “acting like God” and trying to usurp the power of Nigerians who alone hold the right to decide the president’s political future. He stated, “Let Nigerians decide Tinubu’s fate in 2027, not El-Rufai, who talks like God and tries to impose his bitterness on the country.”
He further described El-Rufai as “pure sour grapes” whose political relevance had dwindled since he left office in 2023 and failed to secure a ministerial appointment under the current administration. “Once a kingmaker, he is now a discarded pawn — used, dumped, and left seething with rage,” Okai said.
The analyst accused El-Rufai of engaging in a “revenge tour” after losing political influence both nationally and in Kaduna State, where his successor, Governor Uba Sani, has reportedly distanced himself from El-Rufai’s shadow.
Okai also revisited the controversies that trailed El-Rufai’s tenure as governor, alleging that his policies heightened ethnic and religious divisions in Kaduna. He claimed that El-Rufai’s initial push for another Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket mirrored the same divisive politics he practiced in the state.
“He does not speak for Nigerians,” Okai concluded. “He speaks for his bruised ego.”
El-Rufai is yet to respond to the analyst’s remarks. However, his defection to the SDP and repeated media criticisms of the APC have fuelled speculation about his possible presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
