Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has made a bombshell revelation, admitting that political leaders were fully aware of the controversies surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic records from Chicago State University (CSU) before the 2023 presidential election but chose to support him regardless.
In an explosive interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai, who recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), expressed deep disappointment in Tinubu’s leadership, stating that despite their knowledge of his certificate issues, they backed him, believing he would replicate his Lagos achievements at the national level.
“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in has failed. We saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges. We all knew about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed,” El-Rufai declared.
The former governor is now championing a political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections, urging key opposition figures, including:
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar,
Labour Party’s Peter Obi,
Ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi,
Former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola,
to unite under the SDP banner and challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
> “What I want and pray for is for all opposition leaders—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola—to join the SDP,” he stated.
El-Rufai’s comments come amid growing speculation of internal fractures within the APC, with discontented political heavyweights considering alternative platforms.
Defending His Political Shifts
Addressing accusations of betraying Atiku Abubakar, El-Rufai defended his political decisions, stating that his loyalty has always been to performance, not personalities.
> “I never betrayed Atiku Abubakar because we didn’t meet in politics; we met at work. If I see that he didn’t do well, I will tell him. I told Buhari when he was wrong, and I even took him to court over the naira redesign policy. When Obasanjo and Atiku had issues, I sided with Obasanjo because he was right. Atiku and I are now together—if I had betrayed him, why are we working together now?”
El-Rufai’s remarks bring renewed attention to Tinubu’s certificate scandal, which erupted in 2023 after inconsistencies emerged regarding the identity and academic credentials of the Nigerian President.
Chicago State University (CSU) confirmed that Tinubu attended and graduated from the institution but made a startling disclosure—the diploma he submitted to Nigeria’s electoral body (INEC) was not issued by them.
This revelation fueled widespread speculation and raised serious questions about Tinubu’s credibility, with opposition figures and legal experts calling for further scrutiny.
El-Rufai’s latest outburst signals a deepening political rift, with opposition forces sensing an opportunity to challenge the APC-led government. As the 2027 elections approach, Nigeria may be heading towards an intense political showdown—with new alliances, betrayals, and a battle for credibility on the horizon.
PIONEER NEWS 