The presidency has criticized former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for allegedly causing political controversy with their comments about President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, called out the president’s political opponents, accusing them of “heating up the polity” while Tinubu was on an official visit to Tanzania. He noted that some opposition figures took advantage of the president’s absence to launch verbal attacks on his administration.
Dare dismissed the criticisms as the usual rhetoric from opposition figures and assured Nigerians that Tinubu remains committed to governance. He stated that the president is focused on improving the economy and will not be distracted by political controversies.
His statement comes in response to El-Rufai’s recent remarks about the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). El-Rufai criticized the party for straying from its founding principles and failing to provide quality leadership. He said, “I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”
He also blamed poor leadership on the emergence of unqualified political delegates, stating, “You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today.”
Amaechi, on his part, spoke about the challenges of transferring power to the younger generation. He suggested that Tinubu and the current political class would not willingly step aside without a struggle.
Dare, in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, dismissed their statements as political maneuvering. He urged Nigerians to focus on evaluating leadership based on results rather than political rhetoric.
His post reads, “While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria was away in far away Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, his political opponents, detractors, opposition elements, psuedo friends unfolded their Machiavellian inclinations. Indeed, while the President was seeking solutions to Nigerias’ energy problems in Dar es Salaam, some “wannabes “were heating up the polity.
“Expectedly, it was a gathering convened to further spread ill-will. Nothing new came out of the gathering different from the opposition script we are used to. A few of the participants went overboard in their vitriol, fanning the embers for adopting undemocratic actions. These political gladiators have antecedents that are well known.
“We urge Nigerians to begin their scrutiny early. And choose between political hecklers and real progressives. The clouds are beginning to clear. The stage sets soon. The combat begins. Until then, President Tinubu, an avowed democrat remains undistracted and unperturbed. The fight is ahead. Not now.
“The only conversation he wants to have now is how to improve the lives of Nigerian citizens and constructive discourse on building a resilient economy. This is 2025. Not 2027. Let those who want to test their popularity with Nigerians wait for the next election. President Tinubu is fully focused on providing the leadership that will transform our country.”
