Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, has openly rejected the notion of “One Nigeria,” insisting that regional autonomy is the only way to address the country’s longstanding divisions.
In a post on his X account on Tuesday, Bashir argued that Nigeria’s recurring “blame games” between regions would end if citizens could directly hold their regional leaders accountable.
“Regional autonomy can easily solve this situation of blame games. It is crucial as all citizens of said regions would be cognisant of who they can directly hold responsible for their woes,” he wrote.
He dismissed the idea of a unified Nigeria as “esoteric” and unrealistic, adding:
“I don’t believe in this esoteric concept of ‘One Nigeria’. Escobar & I can agree on that.”
Though he did not mention President Bola Tinubu by name, his use of the nickname “Escobar”—a reference to Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar—was widely interpreted as a veiled jab at the President. The label has been used by critics since Tinubu’s controversial forfeiture of $460,000 to the U.S. government in the 1990s following a drug-related investigation.
Echoes of the Past
Ironically, Bashir’s comments mirror an old remark attributed to Tinubu himself. A 1997 ThisDay report quoted Tinubu as saying, “I don’t believe in One Nigeria,” during his years in opposition.
Ongoing Criticism of Tinubu
This is not the first time Bashir has targeted the President. Earlier in February 2025, he warned Tinubu—again likening him to Escobar—against attempting to arrest his father, calling it “the biggest mistake Pablo Escobar & his henchmen will make.”
In July 2024, he also ridiculed Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu while praising opposition figures. He predicted that Peter Obi, with the right northern running mate, could defeat Tinubu in 2027 before “Aunty Remi finishes his breakfast around 12 noon.”
Bashir further described Obi’s popularity among young Nigerians as a “profound advantage,” while acknowledging Atiku Abubakar as “a force to be reckoned with.”
