Says “I’ll go with president’s choice of candidate”
Indications emerged yesterday that the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential ticket is still open to all contestants in the South-West, South-East and South-South.
Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i dropped this hint yesterday, while briefing newsmen during a media briefing organised by the Presidential Media Team, at the Aso Villa, Abuja.
The governor, while responding to questions on the zoning of the party approved by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, revealed, however, that the zoning arrangements was to send signals about the partys direction.
The Governor, who confirmed that the Presidency has been zoned to the South, added that It is not zoned to any particular place in the South. But we are waiting to see who the aspirants are. A few people have declared their interest. We are waiting. I want to clarify that the APC zoning arrangements that we announced are the zoning arrangements for the party”.
He disclosed that the party had always done that in the last three elections that it had.
Similarly, he revealed that all the positions held by North-West went to the South-East and vice versa. Under the new arrangements, all the positions held by NorthjWest will be going to the South-East and those held by the North-East will go to the South-West. He, however, added that only the Presidents decision will influence his choice in exceptional cases
On his ambition for 2023, the Kaduna Governor whose second term ends in 2023, denied having other ambitions aside from writing books.
El- Rufa’i further revealed how the President had in 2014 forced him to contest the governorship election against his own will.
I have zero ambition; I just want to finish this job and get on with my private life; write another book, and make tons of money. The largest amount of money I ever got in my life was writing the book: Accidental Public Servant; and it is still selling.
So, I have never had any ambition. If I die today, I am satisfied, accomplished and happy; because I never in my life, based on my humble background, ever thought that I would even enter this building (the Presidential Villa). How would I ever enter the office where the President is? So, for me, even being here is a privilege, if you know my background.
He declared that his intention was to serve as a special adviser (domestic) to the President., saying, Anytime they are flying to New York, I will be there. That was my ambition. I would not have had grey hairs.
“The President insisted that some of us must go and run for Governorship, just in case he did not get elected again. He felt that we needed some strong governors; those were the words he used. I was forced into this.
I never desired to be Minister of the FCT. Obasanjo just called me and said he wanted me to be the Minister; I never wanted to be the Director-General of BPE; I was drafted into it. So, I have zero ambitions; I have no aspirations.
