El-Rufai vs Atiku: Has the 2019 battle started so early?

The Loyalty Game

Now to the clincher. If anybody did not know what this exchange was all about, el-Rufai gave a hint towards the end of his rejoinder.

Before we go into that, though, we want to say that Atiku’s ambition to rule Nigeria since 2007 has always been ruined by one thing: the corruption toga. A lot has been said about his political sagacity, national appeal, ability to spot talents and his management skills. But — there is always a ‘but’ — he is “corrupt”.

Perhaps to clear that accusation ahead of the coming political battles, Atiku spoke extensively on the corruption allegations and tackled them one after the other.

But el-Rufai did not mince his words: Atiku is only trying to rehabilitate himself ahead of the 2019 presidential election. The governor threw many stones in the process.

“Our Alhaji Atiku is already running for 2019, and he thinks that he can make people like us collateral damage in his attempt to rejuvenate his image,” he said. Stone No. 1.

“This obsession for power inclined him to support the rebellion against the party that manifested in the National Assembly,” he added. So Atiku is responsible for the emergence of New PDP members as national assembly leaders — Bukola Saraki as senate president and Yakubu Dogara as speaker? Stone No. 2.

“…and is continuing with obvious disrespect for the incumbent president…” Stone No. 3.

To become the next president in Africa, you dare not disrespect the sitting president (although we still remember that Buhari himself became president by unseating an incumbent. Okay, that is once in a blue moon).

And — wow, wow, wow — the barely disguised statement of intent from el-Rufai himself…

“Everyone knows that I support and will continue to work for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Oh yeah. Now Buhari knows who to support between Atiku and el-Rufai in 2019 if he himself is not going for a second term.

“Here am I, your loyal servant,” el-Rufai seemed to be telling Buhari, “send me”.

See you in 2019, guys.