Presidency Blasts El-Rufai, Amaechi, Others for ‘Heating Up the Polity’

The Nigerian Presidency criticizes El-Rufai, Amaechi, and other political figures for making statements that escalate tensions in the country’s political landscape.

Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has criticized the President’s political opponents for allegedly “heating up the polity” without cause.

Describing the President’s political opponents as “wannabes,” he noted that they unleashed vitriol on Tinubu during his time in Tanzania, where he was seeking solutions to Nigeria’s energy issues.

The presidential aide, however, stated that Tinubu remains unfazed and is solely interested in discussions focused on enhancing the lives of Nigerian citizens and engaging in constructive dialogue to build a resilient economy.

His outburst comes just days after Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, and Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, along with other opposition leaders publicly criticized Tinubu’s administration.

El-Rufai also condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) for straying from its foundational principles and encouraging ineffective leadership.

“I don’t recognize the APC anymore. It’s been two years without any party meetings—no caucus, no NEC, nothing at all. You can’t tell if it’s being run by a single person or not managed at all,” El-Rufai remarked.

The ex-governor expressed criticism regarding the quality of leadership coming from political parties, attributing it to delegates lacking qualifications.

It is essential to avoid having leaders who lack education or integrity. Such choices contribute significantly to the inadequate leadership we experience today.

Amaechi, discussing the process of gaining power from a sitting President, reportedly stated that Tinubu and the political elite would not easily relinquish power to the younger generation without facing resistance.

In a post on his X handle on Monday, Dare responded by telling Tinubu’s political opponents to wait until the next election to gauge their popularity.

His post states: “During President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s trip to Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, his political opponents and pseudo-friends revealed their Machiavellian tendencies. While the President was focused on addressing Nigeria’s energy issues in Dar es Salaam, certain ‘wannabes’ were stirring up political tension.”

As anticipated, the meeting was organized to promote hostility. It followed the same opposition narrative we are familiar with and introduced nothing novel. A few attendees took their criticism too far, fueling discussions about embracing undemocratic measures. These political figures have well-known histories in this regard.

We encourage Nigerians to start their evaluations early and distinguish between political disruptors and genuine progressives. The fog is lifting, the stage will be set soon, and the battle will commence. Until that time comes, President Tinubu remains steadfast in his commitment to democracy. The real confrontation lies ahead—not now.

His sole focus now is on enhancing the lives of Nigerian citizens and engaging in constructive discussions to build a resilient economy. This is 2025, not 2027. Those looking to gauge their popularity with Nigerians should wait for the next election. President Tinubu remains dedicated to delivering transformative leadership for our nation.