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.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
