A former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, said he got the blessing and prayers of President Muhammadu Buhari before his decampment from the All Progressives Congress (APC), to Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, el-Rufai said he met with the former president on Friday, March 7 and informed him about his plan to leave the ruling party.
He said he consulted the former president because he was among the few people he recognised as political godfathers, capable of stopping his political decisions.
“I met with him [Buhari] on Friday, and told him about my consultations in preparation to leave the party. I sought his blessing and prayers and told him about the new party I am joining. And he gave his blessing, prayers and wished me success.
“He [Buhari] told me that he is now a statesman, and we are the politicians. He said he knew we had good intention, and then prayed for us.
“What next? I quit their party, and challenged them to eat the party if it is food,” el-Rufai said.
Asked by the BBC whether he quickly left the APC in order to avoid expulsion, el-Rufai said he wished he was sacked instead.
“Well, it would have been better for me if they expelled me. I have stated many times that APC would be my last political party. Had they expelled me, they would have saved me the troubles of explaining why I left the APC. As I said, I have not left the APC, but the APC rather left me,” he said.
el-Rufai said he never lobbied to become a minister under Tinubu administration.
“That was what they always said. But the question is: Did I lobby to become a minister? I know those who paid money to become ministers.
“Perhaps if he [President Tinubu] privately made a promise to appoint me, he would have denied it. But he publicly begged me in Kaduna to come and work with him. Even at that, I did not accept his request until we sat privately to discuss the issue. He [Tinubu] said power problem has become an issue to Nigeria’s development, and successive leaders have failed to solve the problem.
“He [Tinubu] sought my support to achieving his dream of becoming the president who solves the power problem. It was in the light of this challenge, I accepted to consider working with him. I thought he was he serious,” he said.
Asked whether Tinubu betrayed him, el-Rufai said, “no he betrayed himself”.
On whether he had regrets for supporting Mr Tinubu to become president, el-Rufai said, “Well, I can’t say I regretted, but I am disappointed”.
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