President Bola Tinubu has congratulated former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on his 65th birthday, commending his contributions to governance, democracy and national development.
In a statement on Sunday, Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described El-Rufai as a “dedicated administrator, scholar and politician” whose “resourcefulness and brilliance” have left a lasting mark on the country.
The president highlighted El-Rufai’s tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 2003 to 2007, where he implemented major reforms, and his leadership as Kaduna governor for two terms.
Tinubu also praised the former governor’s role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his contributions to the party’s victories in 2015, 2019, and 2023.
“President Tinubu celebrates Mallam El-Rufai on this occasion and commends his endeavours for democracy; his meritorious service to the nation, and mentorship of the younger generation,” the statement read.
“The President acknowledges Mallam El-Rufai’s role in the dialogues leading up to the formation of the APC and his contributions to the success of the party in the three consecutive elections of 2015, 2019, and 2023.”
Tinubu wished El-Rufai “good health and strength for continuous service to the nation.”
The president’s felicitations come amid political friction between his camp and the former Kaduna governor.
In the build-up to the 2023 elections, El-Rufai was one of the northern leaders who insisted that power must return to the South after the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former Kaduna governor supported the presidential ambition of Tinubu.
After Tinubu won the election, El-Rufai was nominated as a minister, but the Senate withheld his confirmation, citing security concerns.
The development was interpreted by political analysts as a move to whittle down his influence in the presidency.
Despite initially retreating from the political scene, El-Rufai recently resurfaced, unleashing a series of scathing critiques of the APC and Tinubu’s administration.
He is also known for frequently retweeting posts on X (formerly Twitter) that are critical of the Tinubu administration.
