Michael Adesina
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has noted that President Bola Tinubu’s congratulatory message to him on his 65th birthday anniversary had a ripple effect.
According to El-Rufai, the president’s birthday message forced his political enemies to also send their wishes.
El-Rufai made the revelation in an appreciation message he issued on Monday.
PM News had reported that President Tinubu showered praises on El-Rufai despite their apparent political rift.
However, El-Rufai admitted that the prayers and good wishes were “humbling and gratifying.”
The former Governor said: “It has been about a week since many friends, associates and admirers sent me various messages and prayers in commemoration of my 65th birthday.
“The prayers and good wishes were quite humbling and gratifying, but far too many and overwhelming for individual acknowledgment or response by me, hence this message.
“I want to thank everyone that sent me their prayers and best wishes, including those that didn’t want to, until President Tinubu’s message shamed them into action. May the Almighty God accepts our prayers and continue to shower his blessings on us and our people.
“I have tried to repost, retweet and share all the birthday messages I received, but as an imperfect mortal, I am sure I couldn’t have done all. If I didn’t with yours, please forgive me. It is an omission of the head, not of the heart.
May Almighty Allah grant us even longer life, in good health, happiness and prosperity, in a Nigeria that flourishes as a beacon of progressive governance, democracy and equal opportunity for all. Thank you all, and God Bless.”
President Tinubu’s message to El-Rufai
Many political observers were surprised that President Tinubu sent a birthday message to El-Rufai despite the criticism of his government by the former Governor of Kaduna state.
Particularly, Tinubu showered praises on El-Rufai after the former governor took a swipe at APC and him, saying the relationship between the President and the north had deteriorated in less than two years into his administration.
El-Rufai also warned that Tinubu might be given the Goodluck Jonathan’s treatment ahead of the 2027 elections.
In one of his attacks on APC, El-Rufai said: “I no longer recognize the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”
In another vein, the Kaduna-born politician launched a scathing attack on his successor, Uba Sani, accusing him of sycophancy and pandering to President Bola Tinubu for personal gain.
“Every day I see this governor embarrassingly and sycophantically rambling, I used to wonder why? However, confirming that Federal Government ‘reimbursements, interventions, and grants’ in excess of N150bn have been given selectively to Kaduna by Tinubu in the last 18 months now explains everything.
“By all means, defend Asiwaju for the conditional cash transfer. Asiwaju has earned it, coming from you. The people of Kaduna State will judge at the right time and place. Have a nice day,” El-Rufai wrote.
Despite the comments, the president went all out for El-Rufai, describing him as a top administrator, and a brilliant politician.
Source: PM News
