Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed why he turned down a proposal to have former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, succeed him as Nigeria’s president.
Speaking in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Obasanjo disclosed that the suggestion came from former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, who had recommended El-Rufai as a suitable candidate to continue his legacy after leaving office.
According to Obasanjo, while he acknowledged El-Rufai’s administrative competence and zeal, he declined the idea because he believed the former minister was not the right person to lead Nigeria at that time.
“Osita Chidoka once came to me and said, ‘Sir, I think Nasir El-Rufai should succeed you.’ I told him straight that it wasn’t going to happen,” Obasanjo recounted.
“El-Rufai is brilliant and hardworking, but I didn’t consider him suitable for that position then. Leadership requires more than intellect — it requires a certain balance and temperament.”
Obasanjo, who governed Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, did not elaborate further on the specific reasons behind his decision but noted that his choice of successor was driven by what he believed to be in the best interest of the country.
El-Rufai, a key figure in the Obasanjo administration, served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and was known for his sweeping reforms in Abuja. He later became the Governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.
Obasanjo’s comments have since stirred political conversations, with many observers revisiting the dynamics of succession planning during his presidency.
