Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has dismissed claims that he betrayed former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, which gained traction on Saturday, El-Rufai, who recently left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), urged opposition figures, including Atiku, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, to join the SDP.
Expressing disappointment with the current administration, El-Rufai stated in Hausa, “What pains me is that the government we supported and believed in would do well because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges.
“We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed.”
Addressing accusations of betrayal, El-Rufai asserted, “I never betrayed Atiku Abubakar because we didn’t meet in politics; we met at work. If I see that someone isn’t performing well, regardless of who they are, I will tell them. I told Buhari, and I even took Buhari to court over the naira redesign policy.”
Recalling the political feud between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku, El-Rufai explained that those who worked with Obasanjo at the time believed he was right.
“When Obasanjo and Atiku had their issues, those of us working with Obasanjo examined the situation and concluded that Obasanjo was right. It was never about the North or South; it was about the facts.”
He further questioned the betrayal allegations, stating, “Atiku and I are together now. If I had betrayed him, why are we still on the same side?”
El-Rufai concluded by emphasizing the need for opposition unity, saying, “What I want and pray for is for all opposition leaders—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola—to join the SDP.”
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