NASIR RUFAI'S NEW POLITICAL MOVEMENT

Nasir El-Rufai, former FCT minister and the immediate past governor of Kaduna State has remained silent since he left office last year. His failure to scale the screening of National Assembly as ministerial nominee has further alienated him from the Tinubu's government. It could be recalled the upper chamber which initially screened El-Rufai later rejected him citing security report against the former governor. But El-Rufai was unmindful of the appointment. When his name was featured prominently in ministerial list, it seemed, he had plan to go back to school. No wonder, he remained quiet as Nigerians missed his voice when the government he helped to install pursues some policies believed to be harsh. One must have expected El-Rufai to comment on some vexed national issues as fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira. These twin policies have caused untold hardship to Nigerians. Surprisingly, in a dramatic twist, El-Rufai has suddenly resurfaced, albeit controversially.

It started with his visit to the National headquarters of Social Democracy Party (SDP). He also hosted National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in his house. In a quick succession, he paid another visit to the suspended Bauchi Senator, Abdul-Ningi. These series of visits have elicited suspicions from political analysts. Daniel Bwala, former spokesperson of Atiku/Okowa 2023 campaign organization stated that El-Rufai is planning to decamp to SDP and challenge Tinubu in 2027 general elections. However, Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesperson for the former governor, says the recent visit of his principal to the headquarters of the SDP in Abuja was without any political colouration. Besides, others speculate that the former presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi is being tipped as another possible decampee to the third force being mulled by Nasir Rufai.

While 2027 general elections is still far away, El-Rufai strategic meeting is still fishy. As the saying goes, there is "no smoke without fire". El-Rufai is one of the best brains the country can parade. He came to limelight in 1999 when President Olusegun Obssanjo appointed him as Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises. Under the Obasanjo privatization policy , El-Rufai supervised the sales of hundreds of public companies . During his stint as FCT minister, he spearheaded the transformation of the federal capital, and stepped on toes of some powerful forces.

Will El- Rufai’s third force dislodge Tinubu in 2027? In politics, nothing is impossible. If El-Rufai decides to ditch APC, it may not be unconnected with the humiliation he suffered during his screening in the senate and the inability of President Tinubu to save his head. In addition, El-Rufai may have been disappointed by Tinubu's administration policies and programs which generated discordant tunes among Nigerians.

Ibrahim Mustapha,

Pambegua, Kaduna State