Public affairs analyst Usman Okai Austin has delivered a scathing critique of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of self-interest, political hypocrisy, and desperation for relevance after being sidelined both in Kaduna and at the federal level.
Okai’s remarks follow El-Rufai’s recent statement that President Bola Tinubu cannot win re-election in 2027. In a sharply worded Facebook post, Okai dismissed the former governor’s comment as ego-driven and rooted in personal bitterness, urging him to let Nigerians—not political elites—decide the president’s fate.
“El-Rufai doesn’t care about Nigeria, he cares about Nasir El-Rufai,” Okai wrote. He accused the ex-governor of talking like a god while trying to usurp the power of the electorate.
Okai claimed El-Rufai’s political relevance had been systematically dismantled by his successor, Governor Uba Sani. According to him, El-Rufai had expected continued loyalty from Sani after installing him as Chief of Staff and later endorsing him as governor. However, he underestimated the internal political dynamics that eventually saw Sani break away from his influence.
“This is the same El-Rufai who manipulated his childhood friend, Uba Sani, into becoming his Chief of Staff, then weaponised him against Shehu Sani, despite the fact that Uba and Shehu are brothers. Blood proved thicker than water,” Okai stated.
Calling the situation poetic justice, Okai described El-Rufai as a once-powerful figure who has now become a discarded pawn—used, dumped, and left with nothing but anger.
He further referenced the controversial Senate rejection of El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination, describing it as an unprecedented disgrace. According to Okai, President Tinubu has completely sidelined El-Rufai, offering no reconciliation or acknowledgment, and instead forging ahead with his own political strategy.
“Had Tinubu made him a minister, or had Uba Sani remained his puppet, El-Rufai would be singing his praises today. But now? He’s just another bitter ex-governor, thrashing in the political gutter, screaming for relevance,” Okai said.
He also criticized El-Rufai’s tenure as governor, highlighting his decision to turn Kaduna into Nigeria’s first Muslim-Muslim ticket state, which Okai argued deepened religious division. He blamed El-Rufai for overseeing widespread insecurity in the state and promoting sectarian politics.
Okai accused El-Rufai of having a pattern of political betrayal, citing his past attacks on Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and his tendency to replace former allies with family members loyal to him.
He concluded by saying that El-Rufai’s recent outbursts are not grounded in principle, but in frustration over his diminished political stature. “Now, El-Rufai is on a revenge tour—granting interviews, crying betrayal, and desperately trying to explain himself. But who’s still listening?”
