Key Takeaways

• Bashir Saidu says El-Rufai’s political rise was supported by a network of associates who helped build his political structure.
• Saidu rejects allegations that he and other former allies abandoned El-Rufai.
• He recounted periods of detention and imprisonment, which he cited in challenging the betrayal allegations.
• Saidu said disagreements over political succession in Kaduna contributed to the split.
• He maintained that his decision to part ways with El-Rufai was linked to dissatisfaction with how the former governor treated his political associates.

Bashir Saidu, a former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has explained why he and other political associates withdrew their support for the former governor, insisting that their decision was not an act of betrayal.

Speaking during an interview with RFI Hausa, Saidu argued that El-Rufai’s rise to power depended on a wider political network built by several associates who had invested years of work and sacrifice in their shared political struggle.

He maintained that the former governor’s political success should not be attributed to him alone, adding that dissatisfaction with how associates were treated and disagreements over political succession contributed to the breakdown of their relationship.

Saidu Says El-Rufai Did Not Build His Political Structure Alone

Saidu disputed the perception that El-Rufai single-handedly created the political machinery that helped him win elections.

According to the former Chief of Staff, several associates were already active in politics before El-Rufai joined them, and their collective efforts helped establish the network that later supported his political ambitions.

Saidu argued that those now accused of abandoning the former governor had made significant sacrifices during their years of political involvement.

He also recalled that his own political activities dated back to the era of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

Saidu mentioned Professor Ango Abdullahi and other prominent political figures as people familiar with the history of their political activities.

Reflecting on how El-Rufai became involved in politics, Saidu said:

“We begged him to join politics,” Saidu declared.

The statement reflects Saidu’s position that El-Rufai joined an existing political network rather than building the entire structure independently.

Saidu Rejects Claims That He Abandoned El-Rufai

Saidu also rejected allegations that he and other former associates betrayed El-Rufai by withdrawing their support.

He argued that their past loyalty and contributions should be considered when assessing the breakdown of the relationship.

To support his position, Saidu recounted his own experiences with arrest, detention and imprisonment. He said he was arrested on New Year’s Eve and spent 50 days in prison before being released.

According to Saidu, he was subsequently involved in several court proceedings before his bail was revoked, resulting in another 54 days behind bars.

He also recalled spending the last Eid-el-Adha celebration in prison.

Saidu cited these experiences while rejecting the claim that he had abandoned El-Rufai during difficult periods.

“It is an outright lie to say we abandoned him,” he insisted.

His account presents the dispute as one involving years of political involvement and personal sacrifice, rather than a simple decision to withdraw support.

The reported periods of detention and the circumstances surrounding them remain attributed to Saidu’s account in the supplied report.

How Political Succession Contributed to the Split

Saidu said disagreements over political succession were among the factors that contributed to the breakdown of the alliance.

According to him, members of their political camp were supporting Malam Jaafaru as their preferred candidate in Kaduna without knowing that El-Rufai had already settled on another candidate.

The disagreement, as Saidu described it, exposed differences within the political group over who should succeed the former governor and how such decisions should be made.

The supplied report does not identify the alternative candidate El-Rufai had allegedly chosen. It would therefore be inappropriate to name that person without further information.

Saidu maintained that the succession disagreement was part of a wider problem involving the treatment of political associates and the recognition of their contributions.

Saidu Says His Relationship With El-Rufai Went Beyond Politics

Saidu also described his relationship with El-Rufai as one that had grown beyond ordinary political association into a family-level relationship.

He said this made the allegations of betrayal particularly troubling, given the history and sacrifices he said they shared.

His explanation suggests that the separation was not solely about political disagreements but also about expectations of loyalty, appreciation and mutual consideration among long-standing associates.

However, the account provided in the article reflects Saidu’s perspective. It does not include a direct response from El-Rufai to the allegations or his former associate’s explanation for the split.

Why Saidu Says He Withdrew His Support

Saidu’s explanation centres on his belief that El-Rufai’s political success depended on the collective work of several associates whose contributions should not be overlooked.

He rejected the claim that former allies had simply abandoned the ex-governor, pointing instead to their political history, personal sacrifices and experiences during the struggle.

He also identified disagreements over succession and dissatisfaction with how political associates were treated as reasons for the breakdown of the alliance.

Ultimately, Saidu maintained that he parted ways with El-Rufai because he was unhappy with how the former governor treated members of their political camp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Bashir Saidu?

Bashir Saidu is a former Chief of Staff to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. In the supplied report, he explains why he and other political associates withdrew their support for El-Rufai.

Why did Saidu and other associates leave El-Rufai?

Saidu said dissatisfaction with how political associates were treated and disagreements over political succession contributed to their decision to part ways with the former governor.

What did Saidu say about El-Rufai’s political rise?

He argued that El-Rufai did not build his political structure alone and that several associates contributed to the network that helped him attain power.

What did Saidu say about allegations of abandonment?

He rejected the allegations, describing them as false and citing his years of political involvement and personal sacrifices.

What role did political succession play in the disagreement?

Saidu said members of their political camp supported Malam Jaafaru as their preferred candidate in Kaduna without knowing that El-Rufai had already selected another candidate.

Did El-Rufai respond to Saidu’s allegations?

The supplied article does not include a direct response from El-Rufai to Saidu’s claims.

Conclusion

Bashir Saidu has offered a detailed explanation for why he and other former associates withdrew their support for Nasir El-Rufai, arguing that the former governor’s political rise depended on a wider network of loyal supporters.

His account highlights disagreements over political succession, claims of unrecognised sacrifices and dissatisfaction with the treatment of former allies. While Saidu rejects the allegation that he abandoned El-Rufai, the supplied report does not include the former governor’s response to his claims.

The dispute therefore remains a disagreement over political loyalty, shared history and the reasons a once-close alliance broke down.