“I Never Betrayed Atiku – Let Him, Obi, Amaechi, Aregbesola Join SDP” – El-Rufai

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has stated that he never betrayed former Vice President and ex-PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. In a recent interview with BBC Hausa Service, El-Rufai expressed his desire for prominent opposition figures such as Atiku, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Minister Rauf Aregbesola to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he recently joined after leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC).

El-Rufai explained his disappointment with the current administration, saying he had hoped President Bola Tinubu would replicate the developmental strides he made in Lagos at the national level. “What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence 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,” he said.

Addressing his past relationship with Atiku, El-Rufai clarified that their connection predated politics. “I never betrayed Atiku Abubakar because we didn’t meet in politics; we met at work. In work, if I see that he didn’t do well, whoever he is, I will tell him. I told Buhari, and I even took Buhari to court on the new naira issue.”

He also reflected on the rift between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku during their time in office, noting that he and others siding with Obasanjo did so based on the merit of the issues, not regional loyalty. “When Obasanjo and Atiku were having issues, those of us working with Obasanjo looked at the issues between them and said Obasanjo was more right. It was not about north and south; Obasanjo was right. Atiku and I are now together, and if I betrayed him why are we together now.”

El-Rufai concluded by reiterating his hope for a united opposition under the SDP banner, 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.”