Ex-President Buhari Okayed My Defection To SDP – El-Rufai

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has revealed that his decision to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) was made with the approval of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, El-Rufai stated that he consulted Buhari before making the move, underlining that he does not take significant political decisions without informing the former president. “I left APC with his (Buhari) knowledge. On Friday, I went to him and told him that I was leaving the party because I don’t take any major political decision without informing him. Even when I was governor of Kaduna State and wanted to appoint commissioners, I sent him the list to review and ensure there was no one who had insulted him in the past. After reviewing it, he said there was no problem and he prayed for success,” El-Rufai shared.

El-Rufai also addressed the misconception that his exit from the APC was due to not being appointed to a ministerial position in President Bola Tinubu’s government. He clarified that President Tinubu personally asked him to join his administration to help stabilize the power sector. “Some think I left because I wasn’t appointed as a minister, but I never asked for that position. I went for screening because the President begged me to work with him. He came to me in Kaduna, we discussed his vision for steady power supply, and he asked me to help him achieve that. I thought he was serious at the time,” El-Rufai explained.

The former governor went on to say that he does not regret supporting Tinubu’s candidacy. “I do not regret supporting him, but I feel disappointed. The reason I don’t regret it is because of two factors. First, Yoruba leaders from the South-West came to me in Kaduna, explaining that Muslim politicians in their region were facing political challenges. That was why I supported Tinubu. Secondly, we had agreed that in 2023, the presidency should shift to the South to promote fairness and justice in the country,” El-Rufai remarked.

El-Rufai was also asked about his political godfather, to which he acknowledged Buhari’s influence but refused to name any others. “I have political associates whom I consult before making decisions. If they advise me to drop a plan, I do so. My first political mentor is Muhammadu Buhari. I won’t mention the others because if I do, people will start pressuring them,” he stated.

Expressing his dissatisfaction with the APC, El-Rufai accused the party of abandoning its founding principles and prioritizing personal interests over governance. “APC has neglected the people. Everyone is looking out for their personal interests and making money. The government has turned into a business, where everything has a price. There is no justice. The party does not even recognize those who worked hard for it. For every appointment, they only pick people from Lagos. The party is dead,” El-Rufai declared.