Kaduna State’s controversial 2015-2023 governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who is now a staunch critic of President Bola Tinubu, was once one of his biggest supporter and advocates. The man, who calls himself an accidental public servant, appears to have no permanent friends, only what many of his former acquaintances say is a permanent interest in anything that advances his personal ambitions. 

In Tinubu’s recent tribute to him on his 65^th birthday, he acknowledged el-Rufai’s contribution to the success of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in three consecutive elections in 2015, 2019, and 20223. Not only was he a founding member of the APC but also led the rebellion against a move by former President Muhammadu Buhari to back another Northern candidate as his successor in 2023. 

He was additionally one of the governors who insisted that it was the South’s turn to produce the president in 2023, which paved the way for Tinubu to contest and win the APC primaries. During the campaign, el-Rufai was on the road with Tinubu and helped in one key movement when Tinubu nominated him to answer some tough questions during a presentation at Chatham House in London. 

Even when he made it clear that all he wanted to do after his second gubernatorial term was to return to his studies to obtain his PhD, Tinubu made him promise to join his cabinet. El-Rufai — who has held successive public offices since 1999, except for a brief interlude in 2010-2015 — agreed to do so but was then dumped after the Senate veto. The trained architect now appears to be angry and has become a full-time critic of Tinubu who he helped elect. He is urging the opposition to unite to ensure that Tinubu does not win a second term in 2027. 

Unlike many of his fellow-critics, el-Rufai is one that Tinubu cannot easily ignore. He has a lot of credibility with the Muslim community and a many loyal admirers in the North. Even more, he is willing and ready to make the wildest claims, even if they are not true, to advance his agenda. One of the people who should know el-Rufai the most — Nigeria’s 1999-2007 president Olusegun Obasanjo — described him as a malicious liar with an ‘inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue and with a penchant to destroy the character of people, including relations and those close to him.’ Despite this, Obasanjo has also conversely described him as one of the best people to work with, who, if assigned a task, will deliver it. 

As Kaduna State’s 2015-2023 governor he rarely tolerated dissent, being willing to use the security forces to go after critics. He clamped down on civil protests but was nearly helpless as insecurity ravaged the state, and especially the predominantly Christian southern Kaduna. Some have described him as being a religious bigot and dictator but he has also been highly praised for the development strides he brought to the state. Current critics, including his successor, Governor Uba Sani (b.1970), have accused him of crippling the state with debt. 

The February 2025 issue of Nigeria Focus also includes the following:

Spotlight

• Is there a chance that Tinubu will get Jonathan’s treatment? 
• Implications
• Profile: Nasir el-Rufai: from Tinubu supporter to prominent critic 

Politics

• Abubakar is still chasing a coalition against Tinubu 
• The Lagos political divide is widening 

Economy

• Inflation falls sharply after NBS releases rebased figures 
• New Tax Bills finally move to public hearing phase

Energy

• Mele Kyari’s job remains on the line 
• Rising prospect of sustained production increases 
• Numbers
• Doubt cast on Dangote Refinery’s current capacity

Security

• US belatedly denies Boko Haram funding allegation