Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has dismissed reports of a deepening disagreement between him and his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that he has no personal problem with the former governor despite continued speculation about their relationship.
Sani made the clarification during an interview with Trust TV, where he addressed reports suggesting that his relationship with El-Rufai had deteriorated since he assumed office in May 2023.
The governor maintained that he had never spoken against his predecessor and questioned the attempts to portray their relationship as a source of political crisis in Kaduna State.
“I have no problem with El-Rufai; I have never spoken against him,” Gov Sani said.
He attributed the persistent reports of a fallout between the two politicians to individuals he described as political jobbers, accusing them of exaggerating the situation and attempting to create unnecessary tension in the state.
According to him, his administration is focused on governing Kaduna State and addressing the needs of residents rather than engaging in political disagreements or public exchanges with former officeholders.
Sani also stressed that he continues to respect El-Rufai as a former governor and political leader, adding that the relationship between them should not be judged solely by speculation circulating in the media.
The governor said his priority remains the unity of Kaduna State and the delivery of democratic dividends to the people.
He maintained that political differences, whether real or perceived, should not distract his administration from its responsibilities.
He also urged residents to disregard reports suggesting that his administration is engaged in a personal battle with the former governor.
The latest comments come amid years of speculation about the relationship between Sani and El-Rufai, who were once close political allies.
El-Rufai supported Sani’s political journey and backed his emergence as governor in 2023 after serving two terms as Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023.
Their relationship, however, came under public scrutiny after Sani’s administration raised concerns about the financial obligations inherited from the previous government. L
Although Sani has repeatedly maintained that governance should take precedence over personal disagreements, El-Rufai has also made comments critical of his successor and the direction of the current administration.
In a related development, Politics Nigeria recalls on February 2025, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai publicly stated that his relationship with Sani had changed, declaring that the incumbent governor was no longer his friend.
El-Rufai made the declaration during an interview with Arise Television on February 24, 2025, according to a report published the following day.
The former governor’s statement contrasted with Sani’s repeated insistence that there was no serious problem between them.
It also drew attention to the growing distance between two politicians who had worked together for years before the transition of power in Kaduna State in 2023.
El-Rufai had played an important role in Sani’s political rise.
Sani served as an adviser during El-Rufai’s first term as governor and later represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly from 2019 to 2023.
El-Rufai supported Sani’s emergence as his successor in the 2023 governorship election.
However, their relationship came under pressure after the new administration began discussing the financial challenges it inherited from the previous government.
In March 2024, Sani disclosed that his administration had inherited $587 million in debt, N85 billion in domestic liabilities and 115 contractual liabilities.
He said the obligations had placed significant pressure on the state’s finances and affected the government’s ability to meet its commitments.
The disclosure triggered a series of political reactions, including criticism from El-Rufai’s supporters.
The former governor’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, also challenged Sani over his comments on the inherited debt burden.
The disagreement later became more complicated when the Kaduna State House of Assembly began investigating allegations of financial misconduct involving the previous administration.
The allegations were denied by El-Rufai, while the state government maintained that the legislative process was independent of the executive.
Sani subsequently insisted that his administration was not pursuing a personal vendetta against his predecessor.
He maintained that accountability and the need to address the state’s financial position were separate from his personal relationship with El-Rufai.
In February 2025, the disagreement became more public as both men made comments that appeared to reflect their contrasting political positions.
On February 4, 2025, Sani said during a television interview that there was no problem between him and El-Rufai, describing their relationship as cordial.
He stated: “I can tell you there’s no problem between me and my predecessor. Our relationship is very cordial, and there’s nothing wrong with our relationship.”
He added that the future of Kaduna State was more important than the relationship between the two politicians, stressing that moving the state forward should remain the priority.
El-Rufai, however, responded critically to Sani’s remarks and accused him of defending President Tinubu’s administration because Kaduna had received federal government interventions and reimbursements.
The former governor wrote on X: “Every day I see this governor embarrassingly and sycophantically rambling, I used to wonder why?”
He also referred to federal government “reimbursements, interventions and grants” exceeding N150 billion, claiming that the funds explained Sani’s political position towards Tinubu.
El-Rufai further stated: “The people of Kaduna State will judge at the right time and place. Have a nice day.”