A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has described the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, as a “wounded lion” who has lost political relevance.

He stated this during an interview in Minna, reacting to El-Rufai’s recent comments that alleged President Ahmed Bola Tinubu would become a life president if re-elected in 2027.

Vatsa stated that El-Rufai was disappointed at being excluded from Tinubu’s cabinet.

Criticising El-Rufai’s governance in Kaduna State, the APC chieftain argued that his tenure saw increased ethnic and religious divisions.

The former Commissioner for Information said, “the whole world saw how El-Rufai unleashed bandits and terrorists against the southern Kaduna people for eight years, blood flowed freely in Kaduna State under him as the governor of the state then.

“Any political party that El-Rufai belongs to will lose election in Kaduna State and the country in general. He misruled the state and the people have not forgiven him.”

According to him, El-Rufai’s actions as governor have made him politically irrelevant, even in Kaduna State, where the APC lost the last presidential election under his leadership.

Vatsa added, “I want to advise El-Rufai to retire from politics quietly, because his continued involvement will yield nothing.”

He also dismissed concerns about President Tinubu’s potential re-election bid, hinging his argument on an agreement that the South should complete its eight-year term before power returns to the North in 2031.