Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that he once turned down a proposal to support former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor when his tenure ended in 2007.
Speaking on Friday at the second edition of the Ajibosin Platform Annual Symposium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo said he refused to back the idea because he believed El-Rufai was not yet ready or mature enough to handle the complexities of governing Nigeria.
El-Rufai, who previously served under Obasanjo’s administration as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, and later as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was a prominent member of his cabinet between 1999 and 2007.
The revelation came after former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address at the event, narrated how El-Rufai had introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34 — an introduction that paved the way for his appointment as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC.
Interrupting Chidoka’s remarks, Obasanjo interjected to add a detail the former minister had omitted.
“Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor,” Obasanjo said, turning to Chidoka with a playful tone.
He then asked him directly, “No be so (Is that not true)?”, to which Chidoka nodded in agreement.
The former president explained that he declined the recommendation because El-Rufai needed more time to grow both politically and personally.
“I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needs to mature. You remember?
“When I left government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature,’” Obasanjo recalled.
Obasanjo, however, praised both Chidoka and El-Rufai, along with other members of his former cabinet, describing them as individuals with special attributes that contributed greatly to the success of his administration.
Addressing the audience on leadership, the former president emphasized that effective governance requires proper training, character, and exposure — qualities he believes are often lacking in politics.
“It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is an apprenticeship. But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough,” he said.
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