Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai has revealed that ex-president Muhammadu Buhari gave his blessing when he informed him of his desire to ditch the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The former FCT Minister switched to the SDP on Monday which has elicited fears that high profile defectors would also leave.
Buhari who served out two terms as president on the platform of the APC anointed then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as his successor as against the front runner Bola Tinubu.
The former Lagos State Governor went ahead to win the APC primary and then the presidential election.
El-Rufai who weeks ago blamed Tinubu for changing his mind to make him a minister after submitting his name to the Senate for confirmation left the APC citing bad leadership and undemocratic tendencies in the party.
Since his defection, rumours have heightened that ministers under the Buhari administration would also leave to form a coalition in the SDP to defeat Tinubu who is expected to seek reelection in 2027.
They are also rumoured he would be joined by some former candidates, running mates and top members of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party among others.
To further advance the fear that the APC is increasingly heading for break-up in a North versus the South report, el-Rufai in an interview on BBC Hausa aired on Thursday, said he does not take a major decision without first consulting Buhari.
He said, “There are certain people that before I do any major thing or make any decision I consult and anything they ask me not to do, I don’t do, and former President Muhammadu Buhari is among them.
“I consulted Buhari before leaving the APC. It was on a Friday when I went and met him. I hardly make any major decisions without consulting him.
“I told him to pray for me and give me his blessings, which he did,” el-Rufai said.
He revealed that, “When I was governor of Kaduna, before I appointed my commissioners, I took the list to Buhari for cross-checking to see if from among them someone ever insulted him.
“He (Buhari) laughed, thanked me and told me you can go ahead and appoint commissioners.”
He however said he does not have a godfather in politics, noting that he has certain people he seeks advice from whenever he wishes.
He doubled down his reason for leaving the APC saying, “The APC has abandoned the principles that led to its establishment. It has abandoned the community.”
He lamented that, “Everyone is doing their own thing. Everyone is looking for money. The government has become a business government.”
