A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has responded to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El‑Rufai’s comments about President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s possible re‑election bid in 2027. Vatsa dismissed El‑Rufai’s statements as those of a politician who has lost influence, suggesting that the former governor’s disappointment at being excluded from Tinubu’s cabinet has affected his mental state.
In the interview, Vatsa also criticized El‑Rufai’s tenure as governor, noting that it was marked by heightened ethnic and religious divisions and by significant violence, including attacks on southern Kaduna people by bandits and terrorists. According to Vatsa, these actions have rendered El‑Rufai politically irrelevant, even in his home state, where the APC lost the last presidential election under his leadership. He advised El‑Rufai to retire from politics, arguing that his continued involvement would be unproductive.
Addressing concerns about Tinubu’s potential re‑election, Vatsa cited an informal agreement that the South should complete its eight‑year term before power returns to the North in 2031. He emphasized the importance of national unity over regional interests, warning that any party associated with El‑Rufai would likely suffer electoral losses in Kaduna State and beyond because of his perceived mismanagement.
Vatsa’s remarks underscore the ongoing debates and tensions within the APC and highlight the complexities of Nigerian politics. The discussion surrounding Tinubu’s possible second term and the role of regional interests in national politics is expected to continue, carrying significant implications for the country’s future.
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