Until now, Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has kept sealed lips on what he knows about the sitting Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. The circumstances leading to his emergence as President in 2023 has remained shrouded in mystery and unquestionable until now.
El-Rufai in a recent exclusive chat in Hausa language, expressed disappointment over President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, saying he and others backed his presidential bid despite being aware of his past controversies, including allegations of drug trafficking and certificate forgery.
Did he blow the lid open on this cryptic subject matter because he was rejected by Tinubu as minister and frustrated within the ruling party structure till his patience wore thin?
In an interview with BBC Hausa on Saturday, el-Rufai said he had hoped Tinubu would replicate the successes he achieved as Lagos State governor on a national scale, but those expectations have not been met.
“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges,” el-Rufai said.
Making direct reference to past allegations against Tinubu, he added, “We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed.”
Recall that Tinubu’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking resurfaced after he declared his presidential ambition in 2022. Documents from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois detailed his encounter with American authorities over accusations of narcotics trafficking and money laundering, which led to the forfeiture of $460,000 in 1993.
Similarly, controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic records at Chicago State University (CSU) gained renewed attention after opposition leader Atiku Abubakar legally challenged the authenticity of his certificate. A U.S. court eventually ordered CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records, fueling further debate.
