Sunday Dare shrugs off el-Rufai’s 2027 threat, says Tinubu will win re-election

Sunday Dare, former minister of sports, says Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, holds no greater electoral value than any other Nigerian.

Recently, el-Rufai said the opposition coalition will send President Bola Tinubu back to Lagos in the 2027 elections.

Speaking during an interview on Mic on Podcast published on Saturday, the special adviser to Tinubu on media and public communications, said the president’s reforms will secure him a second term.

“Is El-Rufai 110 million Nigerians who will vote? How many voters does el-Rufai command? Even if he commands them, can he decide who they will cast their vote for?” Dare asked.

”I have respect for him, but this idea to equate El-Rufai with Nigeria and millions of votes is an overreach.”

He said there are politicians who “command larger votes, better influence, and are key to the transformation taking place in this country”.

“El-Rufai is not bigger than any other Nigerian because everybody has a stake in the country,” he said.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be re-elected in 2027, primarily because of the policies and reforms he put in place,” he said.

’TINUBU IS FIXING NIGERIA’

Dare said experts have predicted that Nigerians will feel the impact of Tinubu’s reforms between four and six years.

“When you look at the alignment of policies, touching on key sectors of the economy, the solid minerals, for instance, lithium and copper… the president has given focus to that sector,” he said.

“In the oil sector, the story before now is different from what it is now; including the educational sector, agriculture, and health sectors. As we speak, 5,000 primary health centres are being reinvigorated. Already, 1,000 are fully operational.

“Look at the sheer number of policies and initiatives that this administration has onboarded in just two years, you will see a leadership adept and conversant with development.

“But more critically, (Tinubu) is a president who understands that this giant (Nigeria) has been punching below its belt.”

Dare said Tinubu is “confronting the devils” that have held the country down.

“As a leader, you have the choice to choose between embracing populism or forgoing populism and doing what is right for the country and the people,” he added.

Dare said Tinubu is taking bold and unpopular steps to drive long-term economic reforms and secure lasting national progress.

“People don’t like comparing us (Nigeria) to other leaders. No. Leaders are leaders. Lee Kuan Yew and others. Margaret Thatcher and others. They came and made a difference because they chose the road less travelled,” he said.

“When Margaret Thatcher left, she was the most unpopular person, but Britain looks back today and picks out some of her policies and says she was ahead of others.

“He (Tinubu) just wants to make sure that he turns things around and improves the economy of this country. He is somebody who believes that without a strong economy, nothing else would work.”