Obasanjo reveals why he rejected El-Rufai as successor

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says he rejected Nasir El-Rufai as his successor in 2007, insisting the ex-governor was not yet politically mature

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that he once rejected a proposal to support former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor at the end of his tenure in 2007.

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Obasanjo said he declined the idea because he believed El-Rufai was not yet mature enough to handle the responsibilities of leading Nigeria.

El-Rufai, who served under Obasanjo’s administration first as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and later as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was one of the key figures in his cabinet between 1999 and 2007.

Speaking on Friday during the second edition of the Ajibosin Platform Annual Symposium held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo disclosed that former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had recommended El-Rufai as a possible successor.

Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address at the event, had earlier recounted how El-Rufai introduced him to Obasanjo at the age of 34 — an encounter that led to his appointment as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Interrupting Chidoka’s remarks, Obasanjo interjected with a light-hearted reminder.

“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, drawing laughter from the audience.

Turning to Chidoka, he asked jokingly, “No be so?” — to which Chidoka nodded in agreement.

Obasanjo continued, explaining that he had turned down the idea because he felt El-Rufai needed more political and personal maturity before assuming such a demanding role.

“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,” Obasanjo recalled.

“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.’”

The former president went on to commend both Chidoka and El-Rufai, describing them as individuals with “special attributes” who contributed meaningfully to his administration’s success.

On leadership, Obasanjo emphasised the need for character, exposure, experience and training, lamenting that politics often lacks formal preparation for leadership roles.

“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 in politics, there’s none — and that’s not good enough,” he said.

Delivering his keynote speech, Chidoka argued that Nigeria’s enduring challenges stem not from a lack of ideas but from a failure to build strong systems and enduring institutions.

“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind,” Chidoka said.

“Moral conviction must translate into the machinery of governance — rules, routines and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult.”

He called for accountability mechanisms that evaluate leaders by measurable results rather than rhetoric, urging the creation of national dashboards and performance-tracking systems to monitor governance outcomes.

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“Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it is the absence of systems strong enough to outlive their authors,” he added.

Quadri Olaitan