- His first disappointment was his expectation that President Tinubu would select a running mate from the Northwest—specifically, himself. When he was not chosen, he turned against Tinubu and worked to ensure the candidate’s defeat in Kaduna State.
- His second setback came when he hoped to be appointed as a minister from Kaduna as a consolation prize. However, he failed the ministerial screening due to his numerous past misdeeds. Instead of accepting responsibility for the violence, suffering, and bloodshed during his eight-year rule as Kaduna’s governor, he started blaming innocent people.
- His third disillusionment arose when his political protégé outmaneuvered him in Kaduna. Just a year after leaving office, all 34 members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted him for abuse of office, money laundering, and other crimes. He was unable to retain the loyalty of even one member, yet he claims that by 2027 he will remove Tinubu, who commands the unwavering support of all 40 members of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
- His fourth source of frustration was his expectation that Governor Uba Sani would fail without his backing. Instead, Kaduna has become more secure, increased its internally generated revenue, and fostered greater collaboration between Muslim and Christian residents—unlike during his divisive tenure.
- His fifth disappointment is that Northern leaders appointed by President Tinubu are performing better and gaining more popularity than he ever did.
- His sixth grievance is that he had hoped to become the leading opposition figure in Nigeria. However, Waziri Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have already taken on that role, leaving him sidelined.
- His seventh surprise stems from the improving economic conditions under Tinubu’s administration. With a GDP growth of 3.84% in 2024, inflation falling below 25%, and unemployment dropping to 4.3%, he has resorted to personal attacks against the President and his key Northern allies.
- His eighth shock is that even his first son, Bello el-Rufai, has distanced himself politically. To secure his return to the House of Representatives in 2027, Bello has aligned himself with Governor Uba Sani instead of his father and has advised him to reconcile with the Kaduna governor.
- His ninth disappointment is within his own household. His first wife, Hadiza el-Rufai, admitted publicly on November 19, 2024, that their son, Bashir el-Rufai, would not have criticized President Tinubu’s administration if his father had been offered a high-ranking position.
- His tenth shock came from realizing his diminished political influence in Northern Nigeria. This became painfully clear when he was absent from the launch of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s autobiography on February 20, 2025—one of the most significant Arewa events since Buhari’s 2015 election. The exclusion hit him hard.
- His eleventh grievance is that, apart from his close associates, no prominent Northern politician has publicly supported him. Instead, they have distanced themselves, leaving him politically isolated.
- Lastly, his twelfth regret is the damage he inflicted on his international reputation in 2019 when he threatened European Union observers with death if they interfered in Nigeria’s elections. Unwilling to live in exile or stay abroad long-term, he is now stuck in Nigeria.
By Reno Omokri
