El-Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu… Friendship Gone Sour

Once upon a time, Nasir El-Rufai and Nuhu Ribadu were inseparable in the corridors of power. Both were seen as fearless reformers under President Olusegun Obasanjo with El-Rufai bulldozing Abuja into shape and Ribadu waging war against corruption. They shared victories, whispered secrets, and dined at the same political table—until the music stopped.

Their first fallout came in 2011 when Ribadu accepted the Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN) presidential ticket without El-Rufai’s blessing. It was an unspoken betrayal, analysts claim, one that left wounds beneath the surface. Still, they kept up appearances, attending weddings and burials together. But behind the smiles, their friendship had apparently started to rot.

Fast forward to 2023, and their paths crossed again under President Bola Tinubu. Ribadu landed the coveted National Security Adviser role, while El-Rufai’s ministerial dream crumbled at the doorstep of the Senate. Many expected Ribadu to intervene. Instead, he stayed silent.

El-Rufai was not one to take such things lightly. He went on television, pointing fingers at Ribadu, claiming he orchestrated his political downfall. He even accused him of plotting a 2031 presidential bid. Ribadu, in response, dismissed the allegations, saying he had neither time nor interest in El-Rufai’s grievances.

Their feud took another twist when the Kaduna State House of Assembly accused El-Rufai’s administration of mishandling 400 billion. The EFCC and ICPC swooped in, and El-Rufai cried foul. He blamed Ribadu for pulling the strings behind the investigations, painting him as the mastermind of his woes.

But politics is like a revolving door—today’s friends are tomorrow’s foes, and vice versa. In 2007, El-Rufai had once mediated between Ribadu and Governor Shekarau over corruption allegations. Now, years later, Ribadu holds the power, and El-Rufai finds himself on the other end of the fight. Irony never takes a day off.

If history teaches anything, it is that alliances shift like the harmattan wind. El-Rufai and Ribadu may be at war today, but who knows what 2027 holds? In the game of power, there are no permanent friends or enemies—only permanent interests.