Former President Muhammadu Buhari was dully informed and approved of the defection of Nasir Elrufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna state to the Social Democratic Party, PDP.
The former governor made this known in an interview on Wednesday, on the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC Hausa Service amid reactions trailing his decision to dump the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The magazine reported that the ex-Kaduna helmsman exited the APC for the SDP earlier this week saying he no longer agree with the manner the party is being run. He was part of the founding leaders of the APC which swept to power in 2015.
El rufai had recently fallen out with the leadership of the party and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the Nigerian Senate failed to approved his ministerial nomination in 2023.
Following the fallout, the former governor had sworn a bitter revenge, and his defection, according to those watching what is happening in the country, is one of the plans to achieve his aim.
However, not a few have also questioned his decision to defect, wondering whether he consulted widely, particularly his allies in the APC, such as Buhari who left power in 2023.
According to the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the former Nigerian leader was aware of his defection, saying Buhari was informed and he gave his approval, by giving him his blessing.
El rufai said he would not make any critical political move without the former president knowledge, adding that he consulted him through out his eight year tenure as Kaduna governor.
He explained further that he used to take the list of his commissioners to Buhari in Aso Rock, for approval while he was president.
El Rufai: “There are certain people that before I do any major thing or make any decision, I consult, and anything they ask me not to do, I don’t do, and former President Muhammadu Buhari is among them.
“I consulted Buhari before leaving the APC. It was on a Friday when I went and met him. I hardly make any major decision without consulting him. I told him to pray for me and give me his blessings, which he did.
“Even when I was governor of Kaduna, before I appointed my commissioners, I took the list to Buhari for cross-checking to see if, from among them, someone ever insulted him.
“He laughed, thanked me and told me you can go ahead and appoint commissioners.”
Following his defection, the former FCT minister promised to convince other key political leaders in the country on the need to join the SDP, in other to be able to wrestle power from the ruling APC in 2027.
Recall that El Rufai had met with the 2023 PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Musa Rabiu Kwakwanso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on how to form a rainbow political party to achieve this aim.
Already, there are suggestions that some of these leaders have agreed to join the SDP.
The big question however is whether the former president will also join the coalition to oust Tinubu from office.
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