Ex-CoS: I didn’t betray El-Rufai, he used my structure to win elections

Hon. Bashir Saidu, former Chief of Staff to Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, has denied betraying the former governor who is currently in detention.

Saidu, who was among the former allies of El-Rufai that announced that they had parted ways with him, spoke in an interview with RFI Hausa.

Daily Trust had reported how El-Rufai recently said some people he stood by during difficult times had abandoned him, a comment which sparked further controversies.

But in the latest interview, the former Chief of Staff said he and El-Rufa’i jointly formed the structure through which the former governor attained power, at the heyday of their political activities.

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He said, “We were the first to suffer before him. I was taken to prison on New year eve. I spent 50 days there. I was moved from one court to another, until the judge who agreed to attend the trial revoked my bail. I was taken back to prison again where I spent 54 days. Is there any night I have not seen?

“I also spent the last Eid-Adha in prison. It is an outright lie to say we abandoned him. We only left when the betrayal became apparent. We learnt the person we submitted to did not value us. We moved where we are valued.

“Those making the noise are not familiar with my relationship with Mallam. It has graduated to family level.”

Saidu argued that he was among those who brought El-Rufai into politics.

“We begged him to join politics. We have been in politics since the time of Abiola in the SDP. Professor Ango Abdullahi, Madakin Zazzau, San Turaki Babba are alive. Our first chairman, Ibrahim Yaro Tela, Ibrahim Zailani have passed away.”

The former Chief of Staff argued that the presumed El-Rufai’s political structure is overrated, adding the former governor still owed them.

On alleged betrayal, Saidu said they were pushing for Malam Jaafaru to emerge as their candidate in Kaduna unaware that El-Rufai’s had already anointed a candidate.