Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has made a startling revelation about how former President Muhammadu Buhari compelled him to contest for the governorship position in Kaduna State, despite his initial reluctance. As reported by DAILY POST, El-Rufai disclosed that he never personally harbored political ambitions but was persuaded by Buhari to take up the challenge.
El-Rufai made this revelation while addressing the state of affairs within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and hinting at the possibility of leaving the ruling party if it continues to stray from its foundational principles. Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Monday evening, the former governor expressed concerns over the APC’s current trajectory, stating that if the party fails to realign itself with its core values, he would have no hesitation in seeking an alternative political platform.
Reflecting on his political journey, El-Rufai emphasized that his entry into the Kaduna gubernatorial race was not born out of personal ambition but rather due to intense persuasion from Buhari. According to him, the former president saw qualities in him that made him a suitable candidate to lead Kaduna State, even when he personally lacked the confidence to contest for the position.
“I have never been driven by political ambition,” El-Rufai stated. “If you ask former President Buhari, he will confirm that he was the one who practically forced me to contest for the governorship of Kaduna State. I was hesitant, I was afraid of running, but he insisted that I had the capacity to lead.”
He added: “I’m a worker. Others run for office, and when difficult assignments arise, they look for people like me to get the job done. Myself, Oby, and Ngozi are not the type to stand on a podium and tell people to vote for us. That’s not our nature; that’s not our training.”
