“Hungry Political Mercenary”, El-Rufai Attacks Reno Omokri Over ‘Yorubanization Of Appointment’ Claim

Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, has responded to Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, following Omokri’s comments about El-Rufai’s frustrations over not being appointed as a minister by President Bola Tinubu.

El-Rufai referred to Omokri as “a political mercenary” who works for any government or individual willing to pay him.

He also reminded Omokri of a past incident where he was accused of identity theft by an American woman, who claimed Omokri used her son’s name, Wendell Simlin, in an attempt to falsely connect former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Lamido Sanusi to Boko Haram.

Omokri had criticized El-Rufai’s recent remarks on the funding of a Lagos rail project, suggesting El-Rufai was frustrated for not being offered a ministerial position.

Omokri also referenced the previous $2 billion loan taken by the Nigerian government under former President Muhammadu Buhari to fund a rail project in Niger Republic, questioning why the Nigerian government should now fund the Lagos project.

He argued that Lagos contributes significantly to Nigeria’s economy and population, while Niger Republic, which received the loan, has little economic contribution to Nigeria.

In response, El-Rufai shared pictures of Omokri protesting President Tinubu’s election and making critical statements about him.

El-Rufai’s comment on Omokri’s “interesting lifecycle” drew attention to his shifting political loyalties based on financial gain.

El-Rufai’s remarks sparked discussions, especially among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), some of whom viewed his criticism as an attack on President Tinubu’s administration.

Meanwhile, Senator Shehu Sani, a former lawmaker from Kaduna Central, took to social media to criticize El-Rufai, accusing him of hypocrisy.

Sani pointed out that El-Rufai had remained silent during Buhari’s presidency despite accusations of nepotism, particularly regarding political appointments in Northern Nigeria.

Sani also emphasized the lack of El-Rufai’s moral authority to speak on issues of lopsided appointments, given his past record.