President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a public swipe at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing his administration as “toxic and uncontrollable.”

 

The president made the remark on Thursday during the commissioning of two major projects in Kaduna State, the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Rigachikun and a 300-bed hospital in Millennium City.

 

Praising the current governor, Uba Sani, Tinubu stated:

 

“Uba Sani has performed wonders and changed the environment from a previous toxic, uncontrollable environment to a state of life, progress, and development. I say thank you, my comrade,” the president said to applause from attendees.

 

 

 

The statement is widely interpreted as a direct rebuke of El-Rufai and marks the first time President Tinubu has openly addressed the ongoing political rift between them.

 

The former Kaduna governor, once a close ally of Tinubu and a key figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), recently defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after months of political tension. His defection followed the Senate’s refusal to confirm his ministerial nomination, a move El-Rufai linked to betrayal by the president.

 

In recent public comments, El-Rufai has made several critical remarks against the Tinubu administration, accusing it of sidelining him and alleging deeper issues of trust and governance.