Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani says he has never spoken ill of his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, despite the reported breakdown in their relationship.
Sani made the statement during an interview on Trust Television’s Daily Politics, aired on Tuesday, insisting that he still holds El-Rufai in high regard despite his ongoing detention and trial.
“Honestly speaking, I have no problem with him. If you listen to me carefully, I’ve never said anything bad about him, and I will never say anything bad about him,” the governor said.
El-Rufai is facing trial over allegations of money laundering and conversion of public property. He has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 19, following his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Sani says silence does not mean abandonment
The Kaduna governor said his decision not to comment publicly on El-Rufai’s legal troubles should not be interpreted as a sign that he has abandoned his predecessor.
He added that he had taken steps to demonstrate his respect for the former governor but preferred to keep such actions private.
“People might not understand certain things. I’m a very discreet person, and as a matter of respect, many things I’ve done to show my respect for him and my regard for him, I don’t think I should come out and say them, because when you respect someone, you don’t come out to say certain things,” he said.
Sani also maintained that he had not withdrawn or disowned his previous positive statements about El-Rufai.
“I can tell you today: everything I’ve said about him, honestly speaking, I’ve not gone back to refute it. Have you ever seen me refuting anything? No. This is who I am,” he said.
Why Sani still consults former governors
The governor said he continues to consult former governors, including el-Rufai, because he values their experience and believes no individual has a monopoly on wisdom.
“By my nature, all the people who were former governors, Nasir El-Rufai and all, if you ask them, I still consult them,” he said.
He disclosed that he had consulted one of his predecessors as recently as the previous week over some roads he intends to construct.
“Even last week, I consulted one of them about some particular roads I want to construct,” he added.
How Sani and El-Rufai fell apart
El-Rufai governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 before Sani, his preferred successor, took over.
However, their relationship reportedly deteriorated after Sani assumed office, leading to a widely perceived rift between the two politicians.
Despite the strained relationship, Sani’s latest remarks indicate that he continues to speak positively about his predecessor and maintains contact with former governors for advice.
