Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Usman Okai Austin, has described former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as a “bitter ex-governor on a revenge tour,” accusing him of lashing out at President Bola Tinubu out of frustration and political irrelevance.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Okai said El-Rufai’s political influence had collapsed under his successor, Governor Uba Sani, and dismissed his recent comments about the president’s 2027 chances as “ego-driven and desperate.”
Describing the former governor’s downfall as “poetic justice,” Okai said El-Rufai had gone from kingmaker to pawn. “Once a kingmaker, he is now a discarded pawn — used, dumped, and left seething with rage.”
He recalled how El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination was rejected by the Senate — a move he labelled “an unprecedented disgrace.”
He added that Uba Sani ignored El-Rufai’s preferred nominee for Kaduna’s ministerial slot and submitted his own choice, which President Tinubu endorsed.
“There were no calls, no reconciliation. Just cold, calculated disregard,” he said, adding that El-Rufai has since been reduced to granting “rant-filled interviews” in an attempt to reclaim relevance.
Okai accused the former governor of encouraging Tinubu to adopt a Muslim-Muslim ticket, mirroring Kaduna’s political structure, and fuelling religious imbalance.
His words: “He had the audacity to advise Tinubu to replicate his divisive strategy. But Tinubu outplayed him. Shettima got the VP slot. The ministerial dream collapsed.”
He also pointed to El-Rufai’s history of political feuds, including with former presidents Jonathan and Yar’Adua, and accused him of favouring loyal family members over allies in political appointments.
He said: “Had Tinubu made him a minister, or had Uba Sani remained his puppet, El-Rufai would be singing his praises today.
“But now? He’s just another bitter ex-governor, thrashing in the political gutter, screaming for relevance.”
Okai dismissed El-Rufai’s claim that Tinubu would need “a miracle” to win re-election, calling it “pure sour grapes.”
“El-Rufai doesn’t care about Nigeria — he cares about Nasir El-Rufai. Let Nigerians decide Tinubu’s fate in 2027 — not El-Rufai, who talks like God and tries to usurp the people’s power,” he concluded.
