Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has clarified that his silence regarding the ongoing legal case against his predecessor, Nasir el-Rufai, does not mean he has abandoned him.
El- Rufai is currently facing trial over allegations of money laundering and conversion of public property. He has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC since February 19.
Speaking during an interview on Tuesday, Governor Sani insisted that he still holds the former governor in high regard despite their reported strained relationship.
”Honestly speaking, I have no problem with him. If you listen to me carefully, I have never said anything bad about him, and I will never say anything bad about him,” Sani stated.
The Governor explained that his silence on the case should not be misinterpreted. He described himself as a discreet person, noting that he has taken several steps to show his respect for el-Rufai but prefers to keep them out of the public eye.
”Many things I have done to show my respect for him, I do not think I should come out and say them, because when you respect someone, you do not come out to say certain things,” he explained.
Sani also mentioned that he has never withdrawn his previous positive remarks about his predecessor. He added that he still consults el-Rufai and other former governors on governance matters, including road construction, because no leader has a monopoly on wisdom.
El-Rufai governed Kaduna from 2015 to 2023 and supported Sani to succeed him. However, reports indicate that their relationship deteriorated after Sani assumed office.
