• El Rufai
• Regret
• tinubu

FORMER KADUNA GOVERNOR NASIR EL-RUFAI EXPRESSES REGRET OVER SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TINUBU, CITES DISAPPOINTMENT IN HIS LEADERSHIP

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  CapitalTimesNews / 3 weeks
• 1
• 2 min read

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has publicly expressed regret over his support for President Bola Tinubu, stating that he is disappointed by Tinubu’s failure to meet expectations despite his initial belief in the president’s potential. El-Rufai made these remarks during an interview with the press, where he reflected on his decision to back Tinubu’s presidential bid despite being aware of his controversial past. El-Rufai revealed that his support for Tinubu was largely based on the latter’s achievements as Lagos State governor, where he demonstrated significant leadership despite facing numerous challenges. “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,” El-Rufai stated. He added that he believed Tinubu could replicate his Lagos success on a national scale, which motivated his endorsement. However, El-Rufai also acknowledged the controversies surrounding Tinubu’s past, including allegations of cocaine trafficking and certificate forgery. He specifically referenced the 1993 Chicago drug trafficking case, which led to Tinubu forfeiting $460,000 to U.S. authorities. “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,” El-Rufai admitted. The scandal surrounding Tinubu’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking resurfaced in 2022 when new court documents revealed details of his encounter with U.S. authorities over narcotics trafficking and money laundering. Additionally, Tinubu’s academic records from Chicago State University became a subject of controversy, with opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar challenging their authenticity in court. El-Rufai’s comments highlight growing concerns among some of Tinubu’s former allies regarding his leadership and ability to deliver on his promises. The former governor’s remarks underscore the disappointment felt by those who had hoped Tinubu would bring transformative change to Nigeria, similar to his tenure in Lagos.