Nasir El-Rufai: The Master of Betrayal Now Playing the Saint. 

By Dr. Ibrahim Anas Umar, 10th February, 2025. 

Nasir El-Rufai has built a political career on cunning, opportunism and betrayal. Once seen as a young, brilliant technocrat, he has become one of Nigeria’s most controversial political figures. 

To others, he is an opportunist who thrives on betrayal, selective loyalty and political deception. Despite his well-documented history of political backstabbing, he now seeks to rebrand himself as a self-righteous statesman, painting his actions as driven by integrity rather than personal ambition. His history is filled with instances where he turned against those who helped him rise to power, using them when convenient and discarding them when they no longer serve his interests. Now, after years of benefiting from the Nigerian political system, he attempts to portray himself as a saint, a man of integrity who was merely a victim of the same system he actively participated in creating and manipulating.

While he is busy trying to rewrite history, Nigerians must not forget the long trail of political deception, backstabbing and self-serving maneuvers that define El-Rufai’s journey. From betraying those who mentored him to deceiving the people of Kaduna with unfulfilled promises, his actions expose him as a man who serves only himself.

Let take a look at how he betrayed for Former President Obasanjo: The Mentor Who Elevated Him

El-Rufai’s journey to political prominence began under President Olusegun Obasanjo, who appointed him as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2003. As Minister, he carried out one of the most aggressive demolitions in Abuja’s history, displacing thousands of residents in the name of urban renewal. Despite the controversy, Obasanjo backed him and shielded him from political attacks.

However, rather than remaining loyal to the man who gave him the opportunity, El-Rufai later turned against Obasanjo. He became one of his loudest critics, dismissing his legacy and portraying himself as a victim of Obasanjo’s administration. This act of betrayal raised questions about his character, how could he so easily attack the man who made him relevant?

Atiku Abubakar was instrumental in the making of Elrufai, However, as a habitual betrayer, Nasir El-Rufai’s political history with Atiku Abubakar is complex, marked by shifting alliances and betrayals over the years. Their relationship dates back to the early 2000s when both were key figures in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration—Atiku as Vice President and El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

•During Obasanjo’s second term (2003–2007), Atiku fell out with the president over succession plans. Atiku had supported El-Rufai’s rise in government, but when the power struggle between Obasanjo and Atiku intensified, El-Rufai sided with Obasanjo.

•El-Rufai became one of Atiku’s harshest critics and allegedly played a role in efforts to sideline him within the government.

•In 2014, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) was being formed, Atiku and El-Rufai were both in the mix. Atiku sought the APC presidential ticket, but El-Rufai strongly backed Muhammadu Buhari instead.

•El-Rufai played a significant role in Buhari’s victory, further sidelining Atiku within the party.

•When Atiku emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2019 to challenge Buhari, El-Rufai, as Governor of Kaduna State, was one of the most vocal opponents of Atiku.

•He was accused of using state machinery and rhetoric to undermine Atiku’s chances, particularly in the North.

El-Rufai, despite his previous ties with Atiku, actively worked behind the scenes to weaken Atiku’s influence in Northern politics, ensuring that he remained out of power.

•El-Rufai has often justified his stance by claiming Atiku is politically unreliable or not the best candidate for leadership.

•He also aligns more with Buhari’s camp and ideology, making Atiku his political rival.

This has created lasting animosity between the two, with Atiku seeing El-Rufai as a backstabber who once benefited from his political goodwill but later turned against him.

Turning Against Yar’Adua and Fleeing Nigeria: 

After Obasanjo, El-Rufai’s political survival depended on aligning with the new administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. However, when things didn’t go his way, he suddenly claimed persecution and fled the country. From abroad, he launched bitter attacks on Yar’Adua’s government, painting himself as a victim.

This pattern; aligning with powerful figures only to betray them when convenient; was already taking shape. He had done it with Obasanjo, and now he was doing it to Yar’Adua.

Abandoning the PDP and Attacking Goodluck Jonathan

El-Rufai was once a beneficiary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) when Yar’adua was critically ill, he lobbied to become closer to Jonathan where he started movements that will portray him as a relevant figure. From there he started lobbying to become the next Vice President or SGF in anticipation of the demise of the Late President Yaradua. Knowing who Elrufai as a serial betrayer, Jonathan refused to trust Elrufai on both Positions and that was the beginning of Elrufai’s opposition to the Jonathan Administration. He joined the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) and became one of the most vocal critics of President Goodluck Jonathan. 

His attacks on Jonathan’s administration were relentless, filled with inflammatory remarks and divisive rhetoric. He played a significant role in shaping the APC’s narrative against the PDP, helping to convince Nigerians that Jonathan was incompetent. However, in retrospect, El-Rufai’s criticisms were less about national interest and more about positioning himself for personal political gain.

Let’s look at his betrayal instances within the APC: The Tinubu Factor

El-Rufai’s biggest act of deception may have come within the APC itself. After the party won power in 2015, he systematically worked to undermine key figures who had played critical roles in its success, particularly Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He was part of the group that sidelined Tinubu within the APC, pushing the narrative that Tinubu was no longer relevant. Despite benefiting from Tinubu’s political strategies that helped bring Muhammadu Buhari to power, El-Rufai wasted no time trying to reduce Tinubu’s influence within the party.

His hypocrisy became even more evident when, after Buhari’s tenure, he tried to align himself with Tinubu again, pretending as though he had never attempted to diminish his role in the APC.

Betraying the People of Kaduna

Beyond his political betrayals, El-Rufai’s time as Governor of Kaduna State (2015–2023) was marked by broken promises, divisive policies, and worsening insecurity.

•Mass Layoffs and Economic Hardships: He dismissed thousands of civil servants and teachers, leaving many families in distress. His justification was that the government needed to cut costs, yet his administration continued to spend lavishly on other projects.

•Demolition of Homes and Businesses: Just as he did in Abuja, he ordered demolitions across Kaduna, displacing people without adequate alternatives.

•Religious and Ethnic Divisions: His tenure saw some of the worst religious and ethnic tensions in Kaduna’s history. His policies alienated certain groups, and instead of uniting the people, he often made inflammatory remarks that deepened divisions.

•Failure to Address Insecurity: Under his watch, banditry and kidnappings escalated. He consistently blamed the federal government while doing little to protect Kaduna’s people.

Despite these failures, El-Rufai now presents himself as a leader who was only trying to do the right thing.

The Attempt to Play the Saint: 

Today, El-Rufai attempts to rewrite history, portraying himself as a misunderstood leader who stood for the truth. His recent public appearances, speeches, and strategic silence on certain national issues show his efforts to position himself as a wise statesman rather than an active participant in Nigeria’s problems.

His silence during the APC’s internal crises and his calculated criticisms of the Gormer President Buhari administration after leaving office are part of his political survival strategy. When things were in his favor, he remained silent. Now that the political climate is shifting, he suddenly wants to speak out against corruption and bad governance.

His attempts to whitewash his image should not fool anyone. The same man who once enforced harsh policies in Kaduna, undermined his political allies and participated in the APC’s internal power struggles now wants Nigerians to believe that he is a victim rather than a major player in the game.

Nigerians Must Not Be Deceived Again! 

El-Rufai’s record speaks for itself, a record of betrayal, deception and self-interest. 

He has switched sides whenever convenient, turned against his closest allies and failed to deliver on promises to the people of Kaduna.

His latest attempts to rebrand himself as a saint are nothing more than another strategic move in his long game of political survival. Nigerians must not fall for his deception again. 

The truth is clear: El-Rufai is not a selfless leader. He is a man driven by personal ambition and his history of betrayals proves that he cannot be trusted.