Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that he rejected a proposal to appoint former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor after leaving office in 2007
El-Rufai, who first served as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) under Obasanjo’s administration, was later appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 2003 to 2007.
Speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the second edition of the annual symposium organised by the Ajibosin Platform, Obasanjo revealed that former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had once pushed for El-Rufai to succeed him.
“Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor,” Obasanjo said, referring to Chidoka.
Turning to him, Obasanjo asked, “No be so (Is that not true)?” and Chidoka nodded in agreement.
Obasanjo added, “I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needs to mature. You remember?
“When I left government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature.’”
After declining the suggestion, Obasanjo went on to back the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as his preferred successor.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
