Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna State governor, has said he will contest in 2023 alongside Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers State governor and serving Minister of Transportation, if President Buhari insists on him doing so.
Amaechi, el-Rufai, Pastor Tunde Bakare and Jimi Lawal, had formed the core of Buhari’s campaign in 2015, and the former Rivers governor, who was said to have funded the campaign largely, has remained close to the president since then.
Amaechi is said to be one of Buhari’s top choices for president in 2023. It is worth noting that Mr. Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Goodluck Jonathan, former president of Nigeria, have also been mentioned as being in the president’s mind.
The Kaduna governor who spoke during an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday, confirmed that Amaechi is interested in being president.
He added that he has repeatedly said he is not interested in any political position in 2023.
“I have said it over and over but I guess the trust in politicians is very low. Nobody believes me. I have said over and over that I’m not a contestant for any office. I’m not an aspirant for anything,” he said.
“Rotimi Amaechi is interested in running for president. He has the right to do so but I’m not running for anything. I’m not going to be on his ticket.”
When asked of his potential response if Buhari directs him to run for office or become the running mate to Amaechi, el-Rufai said he will oblige if the president insists.
“That is a different conversation. I will have that conversation with the president and explain to him why I don’t think it is a good idea but of course if he insists I will,” he said.
The Kaduna governor said he is tired of public life, but not tired of serving his country, stressing that he is “physically tired” owing to the works carried out as a governor.
“I’m tired. I’m not tired of serving the nation. I’m just physically tired because I do take my work seriously and in the last seven to eight years, I have worked flat out,” he added.
“I’m not young anymore. I will be 63 next year so I prefer to look at other options to contribute to the development of my country.
“But of course, as you said, I did not want to run for governor, the president insisted that I should run, if the president insists I should do something I have so much regard for him and his judgement that I will do it even reluctantly.”