Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has refuted claims of a strained relationship between him and his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, stating that their bond remains cordial.
Speaking on a TVC news programme on Monday, February 3, Governor Sani dismissed speculations of a fallout, insisting that his focus is on the state’s progress rather than personal conflicts.
“I can tell you there’s no problem between me and my predecessor. Our relationship is very cordial, and there’s nothing wrong with our relationship. What is more important here is moving our state forward,” he stated.
Addressing questions on the Kaduna State House of Assembly, the governor emphasized its independence, saying, “I don’t know why you’re also talking about the State Assembly. The State Assembly is also an independent arm of the government. So there’s nothing. Kaduna State is more important than me and my predecessor.”
The controversy stems from a June 2023 report by the State Assembly, which indicted El-Rufai and some of his former aides for allegedly mismanaging N423 billion in state funds.
In response, El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, dismissed the allegations, labeling them as false and scandalous.
The probe followed Governor Sani’s earlier remarks about inheriting a substantial debt profile from the previous administration, fueling speculations of a rift between the two leaders.
However, with his latest remarks, Governor Sani seeks to put such concerns to rest, reaffirming his commitment to Kaduna’s development.