Lagos, Nigeria. The former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El Rufai has opened up on his former Boss, President Buhari, the incumbent President Tinubu, the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, his estranged political party, APC, how he emerged as the Governor of Kaduna State and his next political move. He said this when he was answering questions on Arise TV Prime Time Show this evening.
This is the first time he granted an interview after leaving office in 2023. El Rufai clarified some issues related to his stance with the APC, his relationship with Tnubu, Atiku, and Nuhu Ribadu, his next political move, his comment about poor leadership, and his allegation of corrupt practices while in office as the Governor of Kaduna state. He also said he didn’t leave the APC but that the APC left him a long time ago.
In his response, the former governor said Tinubu has never been his friend and that it was Tinubu who rejected him as a Minister and not National Assembly. In his words, ” I have never been close to him, he said” He said he voted for Tinubu and convinced his delegates from Kaduna State to vote for Tinubu because he is a southerner and he supported the southerner ticket based on the constitution of his political party. He further clarified that
According to him, he consulted President Buhari on the eve of APC Presidential primaries, to confirm who the delegates from Kaduna should vote for, saying Buhari directed that the delegates should vote their conscience.
El Rufai said he is not planning to cross the carpet to any other party, he, however, clarified that he is not sure of supporting Tinubu during the 2027 general elections. El Rufai said he only supported Tinbu because he was also obligated to do it as the Governor of Kaduna State and the decision of the Party to ensure they support who could win the elections.
The one-time Minister of FCT also alleged that the present National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu is behind his predicaments and corruption allegations, alleging that the NSA wants to vy for the presidency in 2031 and he is ready to eliminate all possible political opponents. He however clarified that he is not contesting and he never had the plan to contest for any political office.
According to him, he said he never wanted to contest for the Governor of Kaduna state, but that the former President Buhari forced him to contest and he obliged after having like 3 conversations on same issue with the then president.
Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai CON is a Nigerian politician who served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023. He had served as minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007. El-Rufai also served as director of the Bureau of Public Enterprises.
