...asks ex-governor to X-ray his popularity in Kaduna
The group equally flayed El-Rufai for boasting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lose his reelection in 2027.
The former governor, making a reference to an incident during a meeting of ADC members in Kaduna, had alleged in an interview on the Channels TV at the weekend, that both the FG and Kaduna State governments were behind the disruption of the political meeting by thugs.
In the television interview, El-Rufai, also declared that President Tinubu will emerge second runner-up in the presidential election in 2027.
Reacting to El-Rufai, YYP, in a statement signed by its National President, Dapo Fasola, on Monday, described the outburst of the former governor as "lamentation of a frustrated politician".
He further carpeted him for making unfounded allegations against President Tinubu-led administration that has continued to intensify fights against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other security challenges in the country.
Fasola noted that since he fell out with the All Progressives Congress (APC) party and his eventual defection to the ADC, the former governor has been the "critic-in-chief" against the incumbent administration, even when credible political leaders and stakeholders in the north have continued to praise the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
The group added that El-Rufai, rather than heaping blames on the ruling party and government for his political woes, he should do a sincere analysis of his popularity in his home state.
On his statement that President Tinubu will lose his reelection in 2027, YYP berated him and declared his political permutation and prediction will amount to nullity.
The group posited that the Renewed Hope Agenda being vigorously pursued by the President has not only stabilized the economy of Nigeria, it has also reinforced the confidence of Nigerians in the ability and capacity of Tinubu to navigate the country successfully.
While expressing confidence that Nigerians will reelect the president come 2027, YYP urged El-Rufai to wake up from his slumber and disillusionment, adding "no matter the political gang-up by the disgruntled political elements in the country, Tinubu will win second term in office".
The statement reads further: "It is laughable to hear ex-governor El-Rufai saying the president will come third in the 2027 presidential election. What a ludicrous statement and balderdash! The reality on ground has clearly shown that President Tinubu will defeat the coalition being bandied around by the former governor and his co-travellers. We want to believe that Mallam El-Rufai was just catching a cruise on the Channels TV's programme; he knows the reality.
"For emphasis sake, President Tinubu, within two years, has been able to put Nigeria back on the tracks of progress. The economy is looking better and more stable, while bandits and terrorists are being crushed every day by the security agencies. The president's foreign trips and international engagement have started to yield positive results, as multinationals are beginning to return to the country.
"The former governor should know that Nigerians, especially people from the northern part of the country, are now better informed. They can no longer be deceived, misled or hoodwinked by expired political rhetoric as demonstrated by him. When the time comes, YYP strongly believes that Nigerians will vote massively for the reelection of President Tinubu. This is because they are now wiser to separate wheat from the chaff among the politicians."
The group, however, stated that it will continue to rally support for President Tinubu's reelection in the southwest and other regions of the country.
