Former Kaduna state governor Nasir el-Rufai says that despite being aware of issues with President Bola Tinubu’s academic record at Chicago University in the US, he and other politicians backed him for the 2023 elections.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, el-Rufai stated that they backed Tinubu because of his track record as Lagos’ governor and their conviction that he could do the same as president.
“What pains me is that the government we supported and have confidence will do well. We know what Tinubu did in Lagos, we are all aware about his Chicago, but we said if he can do the same as he did that will make Lagos great, we will support him,” he said.
Due to what he saw as a difference in ideals with the incumbent party, El-Rufai defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on March 10.
He recently encouraged Peter Obi, a former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to join the SDP.
El-Rufai also responded to rumours that he might run for president in the 2027 election, stating that the `people and his party will make the final choice, not him.
“It is not for me to decide; it is the party and the people that will decide,” he said.
“Even when I was contesting for governor, it was people that met and convinced (Muhammadu) Buhari, and he called me and asked me to contest.”
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El-Rufai has been critical of Tinubu’s administration since the senate declined to confirm him as minister.
In February, el-Rufai said Nigerians should not believe the narrative that the national assembly rejected him as a ministerial nominee, noting that Tinubu did not want him in his cabinet.
