In December 2024, a public dispute unfolded between former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. The exchange began when El-Rufai endorsed an article by columnist Farooq Kperogi, which criticized President Bola Tinubu for allegedly appointing individuals from his ethnic group to key positions within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). El-Rufai commented, "Two wrongs do not make a right. Sensible inclusion always trumps arrogant exclusion." 

In response, Omokri accused El-Rufai of expressing frustration over not being appointed as a minister in Tinubu's cabinet. He highlighted El-Rufai's silence during the previous administration's $2 billion railway project in Niger Republic, contrasting it with his current criticism of federal funding for a rail project in Lagos State. 

El-Rufai retorted by labeling Omokri a "political mercenary retained by any paying person or government." He referenced a past incident where Omokri was accused of using the pseudonym "Wendell Simlin" to link former Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi to Boko Haram. 

The altercation drew reactions from political figures, including former Senator Shehu Sani, who criticized El-Rufai for his perceived hypocrisy. Sani noted that El-Rufai remained silent during alleged nepotistic appointments in the previous administration but now voices concerns when the current dynamics do not favor him. 

This incident underscores ongoing debates about political appointments and regional representation in Nigeria.