Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai on Monday criticised Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, describing him as a “political mercenary” following Omokri’s remarks about El-Rufai’s exclusion from President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial appointments.
Omokri had accused El-Rufai of hypocrisy in a tweet, referencing his silence over a $2 billion rail project under the Buhari administration while criticising the Federal Government’s funding of a Lagos rail project under Tinubu.
El-Rufai responded by sharing images of Omokri’s past protests against Tinubu and referencing allegations of identity theft involving Omokri in 2014.
“The interesting lifecycle of Wendell Simlin, also sometimes retained as a political mercenary by any person or government that can pay,” El-Rufai posted on X.
The exchange has reignited debates within political circles, with former Senator Shehu Sani accusing El-Rufai of double standards. Sani claimed El-Rufai failed to critique nepotism during Buhari’s administration but has now found his voice under Tinubu.
Sani also alleged that El-Rufai’s tenure marginalised Southern Kaduna, likening the state to an “apartheid state” during his eight years in office.
