Bashir El-Rufai, son of the former K aduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, stirred controversy on social media after reacting harshly to a statement supporting President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle @BashirElRufai, he wrote bluntly:
“This man’s face just annoys me.”
His post was in response to a quote by pro-Tinubu commentator Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz), who shared a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy. Onanuga had said:
“This President (Tinubu) is a Nigerian. He deserves the same two terms that Buhari had. Let’s not sacrifice the country for personal ambition.”
Onanuga made the remarks during an interview on Trust Radio, where he addressed allegations of marginalization of the North under Tinubu’s administration. He dismissed the claims as politically motivated falsehoods aimed at discrediting the President.
“You need to get your statistics right. It’s all political mischief designed to undermine the President. There are bad roads across the country, not just in the North,” Onanuga said.
He emphasized that President Tinubu’s appointments have not neglected the North, noting that key national security positions are held by Northerners. According to him:
“The National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, and the two Defence Ministers are all Northerners.”
He also pointed to improvements in security within parts of Kaduna State, stating:
“Places like Birnin Gwari and Igabi are now safer. I drove from Kaduna to Abuja without incident, a journey that was once unthinkable.”
Despite these assurances, Bashir El-Rufai’s sharp reaction suggests a deepening dissatisfaction among some Northern political voices, potentially signaling tensions over regional equity and leadership within the ruling elite.
