Osuntokun: How Ribadu, El-Rufai Rift Began

Former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Akin Osuntokun, has claimed that a public opinion survey reportedly commissioned by President Bola Tinubu in 2007, favouring Nuhu Ribadu over former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El‑Rufai, triggered the lingering political rivalry between the two northern figures.

Osuntokun made the disclosure while speaking during a programme on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday, a clip of which was later shared on its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle.

Ribadu and El-Rufai had worked at different capacities in the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

However, according to Osuntokun, Tinubu, who had just completed his tenure as governor of Lagos State in 2007, played a kingmaker role at the time and sought to support a younger northern politician in line with the perceived zoning arrangement which favoured the region.

He said, “Tinubu had just left as governor of Lagos State and wanted to support or sponsor the younger generation since it was viewed as the turn of the North. He then carried out a public opinion survey. The result clearly favoured Ribadu.”

Osuntokun stated that the survey reportedly gave Ribadu about 45 per cent support, while El-Rufai polled about seven per cent, prompting Tinubu to adopt Ribadu as a preferred candidate, a move he said created tension between the two politicians.

He noted that the development marked the beginning of what he described as enduring bad blood between Ribadu and El-Rufai, adding that subsequent political developments deepened the rivalry.

Osuntokun further claimed that political disagreements at the time led to pressure and probes that allegedly forced both men to leave the country temporarily, although he said the situation later enhanced their political relevance.

“So, that confrontation led to both of them going into exile at some point, but it also led to a rise in their political profile because of how they were treated,” he said.

Speaking on later developments, Osuntokun said El-Rufai eventually gained political prominence by serving two terms as governor of Kaduna State, while Ribadu experienced periods of political setback before rebuilding his political influence.

He also referenced events surrounding ministerial appointments during Tinubu’s administration, alleging that political manoeuvrings further strained relations among key political actors.

Osuntokun said Ribadu later strengthened his political ties with Tinubu, eventually emerging as a close ally, a development he suggested heightened political friction with El-Rufai.

End.