Kwankwaso to El-Rufai: You are a liar, Tinubu will enjoy landslide victory in 2027

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kano, Dr. Illyasu Musa Kwankwaso, has discredited former Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai’s calculation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will come third in the 2027 presidential election, calling him , “a blatant liar and frustrated politician.”

The two-time Commissioner of Rural and Community Development in Kano under the administrations of former governors Ibrahim Shekarau and Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, took a swipe at El-Rufai in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Kano on Monday, insisting that President Tinubu’s achievements so far indicate that he will get a landslide victory during his 2027 re-election bid.

Kwankwaso, who is currently the Executive Director (Finance) Hadejia Jama’are, accused El-Rufai of resorting to cheap blackmail and falsehood to regain political relevance.

He warned that El-Rufai’s attempts to discredit President Tinubu will only lead the former Kaduna state Governor to political doom.

He said: “You (El Rufai) cannot disparage or edge out President Tinubu from the 2027 race the way you tried with former President Jonathan in 2015, using insecurity, poverty, and economic challenges as tools.”

According to Kwankwaso, Tinubu has made significant progress in security and economic reforms.

He insisted that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, “is gradually eradicating insecurity,” while insisting that El-Rufai was unhappy with the government’s achievements.

Kwankwaso challenged El-Rufai to provide evidence to back up his claims that President Tinubu’s administration was sponsoring banditry, “or remain silent and allow the government to continue its good work.”

He accused El-Rufai of attempting to incite northern Nigerians against President Tinubu’s administration, but maintained that Northerners are aware of Tinubu’s efforts, especially in restoring security across Birnin Gwari, Sokoto, Borno, and other states.

Kwankwaso also criticized opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, describing them as, “coalition of failures incapable of matching President Tinubu’s leadership.”

He recalled that the ex-President Buhari administration, in which El-Rufai played a major role, left behind deep economic and security challenges, including a naira-to-dollar exchange rate of N1,500, up from N160 under Ex-President Jonathan, which Tinubu inherited.

“Under Ribadu’s leadership as the NSA, bandits, Boko Haram fighters, and other criminals are being eliminated daily. Northern Nigeria is now reaping the benefits, as citizens can travel safely between Kano, Abuja, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Borno,” he said.

Kwankwaso urged Nigerians to rally behind President Tinubu to complete two terms, describing him as a unifier who has prioritized the North despite historical leadership imbalances between regions.

“President Tinubu stood firm and won in 2023 with 8 million votes. This time, with Northern support, I assure you, he will win by a landslide with 15 million votes,” Kwankwaso declared.