Rita Odafe
Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, recently ridiculed Reno Omokri on X, labeling him a ‘political mercenary.’
El-Rufai claimed that Omokri offers his services to any government that compensates him well.
This commentary emerged on Monday, following El-Rufai’s endorsement of a column by Farooq Kperogi. Kperogi accused President Tinubu of appointing his ethnic group members to positions within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The piece, titled “Tinubu’s Buharisation of the NNPC,” criticized the president’s focus on his ethnic group’s dominance in the NNPC, which mirrored the previous administration’s approach under Muhammadu Buhari.
NIGERIA UPDATE – The interesting lifecycle of Wendell Simlin, also sometimes retained as a political mercenary by any person or government that can pay….. pic.twitter.com/wuXw3Wl1JR
— Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (@elrufai) December 30, 2024
In reaction to Kperogi’s article, El-Rufai remarked on X, stating: “DECEMBER MESSAGE: Two wrongs do not make a right. Sensible inclusion always trumps arrogant exclusion.”
This statement led to criticisms from both the presidency and supporters of President Tinubu, including Omokri.
Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna Central, was among the first to respond, pointing out El-Rufai’s previous silence while Buhari appointed his relatives to various positions.
Sani claimed that during El-Rufai’s tenure, Kaduna was akin to an apartheid state.
He wrote, “Those who were quiet when Buhari appointed kinsmen to political roles have suddenly found their voice now that the tables have turned. Let’s not forget the nepotism that sidelined Southern Kaduna for eight years.”
In response, Bayo Onanuga, an aide to President Tinubu, mentioned on X that Sani was addressing El-Rufai’s remarks against the president.
On his part, Omokri criticized El-Rufai through several posts on his X and Facebook accounts, taking issue with El-Rufai’s comments regarding Tinubu.
One of his statements read, “Consider this: Nasir El-Rufai, who once admitted to using government funds to support killer herdsmen, is now upset that the Tinubu government is investing in a railway project in Lagos. Perhaps he would prefer the funds be given to Boko Haram instead.”
In retaliation to Omokri’s comments, El-Rufai shared historical campaign posts from Omokri that criticized a “drug baron in Aso Rock,” stating, “NIGERIA UPDATE – The interesting lifecycle of Wendell Simlin, also sometimes retained as a political mercenary by any person or government that can pay.”
