Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed deep disappointment in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that he is pained by the president’s failure despite the support he and others gave him during the 2023 general elections.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa published on Saturday, El-Rufai disclosed that his support for President Tinubu was based on the belief that he would replicate the developmental strides recorded during his time as governor of Lagos State, regardless of his past controversies.
“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 said.
El-Rufai also made reference to longstanding controversies surrounding the president’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking and certificate forgery.
He noted that the issues were well-known even before the elections but were overlooked by his camp in the hope of competent leadership.
“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 added.
The former governor’s comments have reignited discussions around President Tinubu’s past legal issues in the United States, including a narcotics-related forfeiture of $460,000 to the U.S. government in 1993. The case resurfaced after Tinubu declared his presidential ambition in 2022.
In addition, the controversy surrounding his academic records from Chicago State University also drew public scrutiny, particularly when opposition leader Atiku Abubakar filed a suit in a U.S. court seeking the release of Tinubu’s academic documents.