Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has disclosed that he and his allies supported President Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023, despite being aware of allegations surrounding his forged Chicago certificate and other controversial aspects of his past.
In the lead-up to the 2023 general election, Tinubu’s alleged fake Chicago certificate became a major topic of public debate and was later brought before the courts for judicial review after the election.
In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, aired on Saturday, El-Rufai explained that they believed Tinubu could replicate his achievements as Lagos State governor on a national scale if elected. However, he expressed deep regret that, despite their support, Tinubu’s performance has been profoundly disappointing.
“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in has failed to deliver. We were hopeful because of what Tinubu achieved in Lagos, despite his challenges. We were aware of his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his Lagos success for Nigeria, it was worth supporting him. Unfortunately, he has failed,” El-Rufai stated.
El-Rufai also urged prominent opposition leaders to unite under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to rescue the country from its current predicament.
“What I desire and pray for is for all opposition leaders—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola—to join the SDP,” he added.
The former governor also addressed accusations that he had betrayed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, denying any such disloyalty. Reflecting on the political rift between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Abubakar, El-Rufai, who served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the time, stated that those working with Obasanjo believed he was in the right.
“I never betrayed Atiku Abubakar because our relationship was professional, not political. In a professional setting, if I believe someone has not performed well, I will speak up, regardless of who they are. I did the same with Buhari and even took him to court over the new naira policy.
“When Obasanjo and Atiku were at odds, those of us working with Obasanjo assessed the situation and concluded that Obasanjo was more justified. It wasn’t a matter of north versus south; Obasanjo was right. Atiku and I are now on good terms, and if I had betrayed him, why would we be working together now?” he questioned.
