- Dare said 5,000 health centres are being revived, with 1,000 already operational across the country.
- He likened Tinubu’s leadership to Margaret Thatcher’s unpopular but transformational tenure.
The former minister of youth and sports development, Sunday Dare, has dismissed the political weight of the former governor of Kaduna, Nasir el-Rufai.
Dare said el-Rufai is not more electorally valuable than any other Nigerian ahead of the 2027 general election.
The former governor had recently claimed that a new opposition alliance would send the president, Bola Tinubu, “back to Lagos”.
Reacting during an appearance on Mic On Podcast published Saturday, Dare, now special adviser to Tinubu on media and public communications, said the president’s reforms will secure him another term.
“Is el-Rufai 110 million Nigerians who will vote? How many voters does el-Rufai command? Even if he commands them, can he decide who they will cast their vote for?” he asked.
“I have respect for him, but this idea to equate el-Rufai with Nigeria and millions of votes is an overreach.”
He said there are other politicians with more influence and better political reach than el-Rufai.
“El-Rufai is not bigger than any other Nigerian because everybody has a stake in the country,” he said.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be re-elected in 2027, primarily because of the policies and reforms he put in place,” he added.
Dare said experts have predicted that Nigerians will start feeling the benefits of Tinubu’s economic reforms between four and six years.
“When you look at the alignment of policies, touching on key sectors of the economy — the solid minerals, for instance, lithium and copper… the president has given focus to that sector,” he said.
“In the oil sector, the story before now is different from what it is now; including the educational sector, agriculture, and health sectors.
“As we speak, 5,000 primary health centres are being reinvigorated. Already, 1,000 are fully operational.”
He said the number of policies introduced in just two years is a pointer to Tinubu’s development mindset.
“Look at the sheer number of policies and initiatives that this administration has onboarded in just two years, you will see a leadership adept and conversant with development,” he said.
“But more critically, (Tinubu) is a president who understands that this giant (Nigeria) has been punching below its belt.”
Dare said Tinubu is “confronting the devils” that have kept Nigeria stagnant for years.
“As a leader, you have the choice to choose between embracing populism or forgoing populism and doing what is right for the country and the people,” he said.
He described Tinubu as bold and reform-driven, saying his unpopular choices are aimed at long-term prosperity.
“People don’t like comparing us (Nigeria) to other leaders. No. Leaders are leaders. Lee Kuan Yew and others. Margaret Thatcher and others. They came and made a difference because they chose the road less travelled,” he said.
“When Margaret Thatcher left, she was the most unpopular person, but Britain looks back today and picks out some of her policies and says she was ahead of others.”
He said Tinubu’s ultimate goal is to strengthen Nigeria’s economy, adding that economic revival is key to national success.
“He (Tinubu) just wants to make sure that he turns things around and improves the economy of this country,” he said.
“He is somebody who believes that without a strong economy, nothing else would work.”
Discussion about this post