El-Rufai And Tinubu: A Debate On Leadership And Alliances

Farotimi Speaks Out: Why an Alliance Between Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai Might Not Fly

Let's get right into it. Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has dropped some serious thoughts about the possibility of an alliance between Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai leading up to the 2027 election. According to Farotimi, this potential partnership might not work out as smoothly as some might hope. Naija News has reported that Farotimi is deeply concerned about El-Rufai's past actions, particularly his perceived bigotry and the way he handled incidents involving the people of Southern Kaduna.

During a recent interview with News Central, Farotimi, who was once a part of Peter Obi's presidential campaign council, expressed that any alliance for the 2027 election without ensuring citizens' votes are valued and counted would be nothing short of a wasted opportunity. He emphasized that the people of Southern Kaduna and the Middle Belt wouldn't easily accept a partnership with El-Rufai.

“Listen, the 2027 election is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Nigeria. If Peter Obi is considering an alliance with El-Rufai, we need to ask ourselves a critical question: Is this alliance happening in a Nigeria where citizens truly have a voice and their votes count? If that's not the case, then it's a non-starter for me,” Farotimi stated passionately.

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He went on to say, “Even if there were such an alliance, I’d expect someone like El-Rufai, who has a questionable history with the Nigerian people, especially the people of Southern Kaduna, to step back and let others take the lead. I wouldn’t expect him to be front and center, constantly reminding everyone of his past actions. Because here’s the thing—I don’t see how the people of Southern Kaduna, or even the entire Middle Belt, could stomach having El-Rufai in a prominent position within any political party. His bigotry is well-documented, and it's something we can't just gloss over.”

Tinubu vs. El-Rufai: Who’s the Lesser Devil?

When asked to compare President Bola Tinubu and El-Rufai, Farotimi didn’t mince words. He admitted that while he knows Tinubu’s flaws, his skin crawls when he reflects on El-Rufai’s public statements and actions. “Here’s the deal: Tinubu is the devil I know. His actions, his policies, his shortcomings—I have a clear understanding of them. But when it comes to El-Rufai, his capacity for evil is something I don’t fully comprehend. All I know is that his words and deeds have left a deeply unsettling impression on me,” Farotimi confessed.

He continued, “El-Rufai has made some pretty disturbing statements in public. Things like paying off terrorists, or how you owe a Fulani man and will pay for it, or treating the people of Southern Kaduna as if they’re nothing more than pests. Whether he was directly responsible for all these issues, he was the governor, the chief security officer of the state, and he never once offered any comforting words or solutions. And let me tell you, I’ve been involved in the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, where I’ve heard firsthand the pain Middle Belt people have endured at the hands of Fulani marauders. To hear someone normalize that level of violence and injustice—it gives me chills.”

Farotimi concluded by saying, “I can’t argue with what Chidi Odinkalu said about El-Rufai. It’s almost like being asked which hand I’d rather lose. Because as between Tinubu and El-Rufai, the Nigerian people won’t find salvation in either. These are tough truths, but they need to be said.”