Fani-Kayode names two stalwarts behind Tinubu's victory in the presidential elections

A former Nigerian aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday, June 8, mentioned former governors, Nasir El-Rufai and Bello Matawalle as two politicians who helped President Bola Tinubu to power.

Writing on his verified Twitter handle, Fani-Kayode said he greatly respects Messrs El Rufai and Matawalle.

Fani-Kayode was reacting to the criticism received by El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna state, following a controversial video that seemed to show him disrespecting Christians in Nigeria. Premium Times made a transcript of the video.

But Fani-Kayode said El-Rufai is neither a Muslim fundamentalist nor a fascist.

He wrote: "I know a religious bigot when I see one and I assure you that Nasir El Rufai is not one of them. Neither is he a Muslim fundamentalist, a terrorist, a fascist or a jihadist."

Fani-Kayode described the former Kaduna governor as a great fighter, saying: "If there are people that ought to be regarded as the true heroes of the struggle to make Asiwaju President El Rufai and Matawalle must be amongst them."