The Presidency has berated former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of hypocrisy and plotting against the President.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday, pointed out El-Rufai’s acknowledgement that four years is not enough for a political office holder to make meaningful changes, saying, “yet he is now at the forefront of efforts to oust President Tinubu just two years into his tenure.”

El-Rufai had advised former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and his ex-Anambra State counterpart, Peter Obi, to desist from making one-term presidency pledges, saying Nigerians do not believe such promises.

El-Rufai spoke on Sunday during an appearance on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme.

Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has consistently stated that he would serve only one term if elected president in 2027, insisting that four years is sufficient to reset Nigeria.

According to Onanuga, this stance is a clear contradiction and a demonstration of El-Rufai’s desperation for power.
In contrast, Onanuga highlighted the significant achievements of President Tinubu’s administration, citing increased foreign reserves, which have reached a 44-month high.

According to him, the stock market has also experienced phenomenal growth, with the All Share Index (ASI) skyrocketing from 53,000 points to over 140,000 points, resulting in the creation of over N26 trillion in additional wealth.

Furthermore, Onanuga noted that the exchange rate has been harmonised, eliminating arbitrage, and investment inflows have increased.

He added that the inflation rate has decreased for four successive months, and the GDP has grown by N103.5 trillion in just two years.

According to him, the administration has also implemented a revolutionary student loan policy through NELFUND, providing support to indigent students. He also revealed that vulnerable Nigerians are receiving cash support from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

Onanuga emphasised that national revenue has increased phenomenally, and the record is expected to be broken again this year and next year following the implementation of a revolutionary tax reform.

He said states and local councils are also receiving more funds from the centre, enabling them to embark on capital projects and create jobs. The governors have even acknowledged that they have never had it so good.

Onanuga lamented that, despite these achievements, ‘power-hungry’ politicians are plotting against President Tinubu, driven by their own sense of political irrelevance and displacement.