Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has condemned recent comments by ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, describing them as irresponsible and potentially treasonous.
In a statement posted on his social media pages, Omokri accused el-Rufai of “coup-baiting” after the latter likened the current administration to a military dictatorship.
During a recent address, el-Rufai stated: “For those of us who lived half our lives under military rule, we know what it is.
“We don’t want a military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babbar riga and suits.
“This is a national emergency, and we must act before history repeats itself.”
Omokri fired back, calling el-Rufai’s comments “self-serving” and hypocritical.
He reminded Nigerians of el-Rufai’s controversial record as governor, which included the demolition of critics’ homes, the jailing of opposition voices, and the payment of herdsmen during a period of mass killings in Southern Kaduna.
“This is a man who threatened foreign election observers with ‘body bags,’ and today, he has the audacity to accuse the Tinubu administration of acting like a military government?” Omokri questioned.
Omokri added: “Interestingly, on the same day that Nasir el-Rufai was photographed together with his newfound political friends, Peter Obi gave an interview and said he was not interested “in any coalition that is for the purpose of taking power.”
“Why did Peter Obi choose to make that statement on the same day that those men met? Look, the signs are obvious. Peter Obi knows, as I know, that their intentions for Nigeria are just state capture.
“Because Mr. Obi was part of the Jonathan administration, like myself, and knows that Nasir el-Rufai met President Jonathan at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, and began praising Dr. Jonathan after that meeting and urging the then-acting President to contest the 2011 Presidential election because he thought he would be named vice President by President Jonathan.
“But four days later, on May 15, 2010, when then-President Jonathan named Namadi Sambo the vice presidential nominee instead of him, Nasir el-Rufai began fighting him.
“And the same Nasir el-Rufai, who had the previous year insisted General Buhari and said, “General Buhari has remained perpetually unelectable because his record as military head of state, and afterwards, is a warning that many Nigerians have wisely heeded”, suddenly joined General Buhari and became his mouthpiece to fight the Jonathan administration.
“Now, after having been snubbed by this administration, el-Rufai is up to his old antics. I call on Nigerians to remind Nasir el-Rufai of his diabolical history and tell him they would not stand for a military coup because he lost out on becoming a minister.”
Respect Reno, I mean the carpet bagger thinks that all Nigerians suffer amnesia a very little man with very huge ego. Someone who couldn’t deliver Kaduna for APC in the last presidential election is waxing lyrical. Pathetic!
He’s a damaged politician and does not command musch electoral value anymore, just looking for naive politicians to deceive into forming an opposition party like you said for state capture, and I concur with your cerebral submission.