Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has dismissed reports of a strained relationship with his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that he has never spoken against the former governor.
Sani made the clarification during an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics on Tuesday, amid questions over his relationship with El-Rufai and the former governor’s continued detention.
The governor said he still holds El-Rufai in high regard and would not publicly disclose all the steps he had taken to demonstrate his respect for his predecessor.
“Honestly speaking, I have no problem with him. If you listen to me carefully, I have never spoken anything bad about him, and I will never speak anything bad about him,” Sani said.
Sani also distanced himself from a statement attributed to one of his supporters suggesting that El-Rufai should remain in detention until after the next election.
He said the individual was speaking in a personal capacity and did not represent his position.
The governor further explained that he preferred to keep private any efforts he may have made concerning El-Rufai’s situation, saying respect for someone did not require publicising such actions.
Sani maintained that he had not withdrawn or contradicted his previous comments about El-Rufai and insisted that his position had remained consistent.
He also said he regularly consults former Kaduna governors on governance and development issues, citing former governor Ahmed Makarfi as one of those he has sought advice from on road projects.
According to Sani, former governors have valuable experience that can help sitting governors make better decisions.
“When you are sitting as a governor, you don’t have a monopoly of wisdom. The way to succeed is to be humble and listen to people who advise you,” he said.
The governor added that he had also consulted former Vice-President Namadi Sambo on a project and obtained the design of the Government House from him.
