Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Tinubu, downplayed Nasir el-Rufai’s influence, stating he lacks the political power to unsettle the President. Bwala dismissed el-Rufai’s critiques, claiming no opposition party can challenge Tinubu’s leadership. He also noted el-Rufai’s struggles in seeking political success outside the APC.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has dismissed concerns about Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna, undermining the President's authority. In a recent interview, Bwala stated that el-Rufai lacks the political influence to “unsettle” Tinubu, claiming that the President isn’t bothered by the former governor’s critiques of his administration.
El-Rufai, a vocal critic of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has recently expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s direction, even questioning its core values. Bwala, in response, questioned whether el-Rufai would have voiced such criticisms if he held a position in the current administration. Despite el-Rufai’s comments, Bwala emphasized that the President’s approach has always been one of reconciliation, and that no opposition party in Nigeria is capable of challenging Tinubu’s leadership.
Bwala further downplayed el-Rufai’s political standing, stating that the former governor would not win a senatorial seat on his own. He pointed out that el-Rufai’s past electoral successes were largely due to his association with the Buhari factor and not his political strength. Bwala concluded by asserting that el-Rufai’s attempts to cause a rift within the ruling APC would be futile, as no opposition party, even combined, could threaten Tinubu’s leadership.
