Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has dismissed the speculations of his being named Chief of Staff to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he become President on 29th May.
Following his closeness to Tinubu during the electioneering period, reports had it that El-Rufai was among those being considered for the position.
However, the governor said that he would rather remain in the private sector while contributing to Nigeria’s development.
While commissioning the Gombe Geographic Information Systems Service Centre (GOGIS) on Saturday, El-Rufai said: “I will be leaving in 22 days, but I will be available anytime you need a troublemaker.
“I will be in the private sector. I’m not going to be any Chief of Staff. I will take a break and advice people like Governor Inuwa Yahaya, if they need it”.
El-Rufai also performed the groundbreaking ceremony of 550 Shongo Homes and Gardens under the Family Homes Fund in Gombe State.
At the event, the host governor explained that he modelled his policies after that of his in-law, El-Rufai to ensure development in Gombe State.
According to Yahaya, his relationship of 32 years with El-Rufai transcended politics and political ties, describing it as father and son.
He said: “A brother, friend, colleague, but above all an in-law. I have been married to his niece, Asma’u for 32 years now and all this while there is nothing else than a brotherly and fatherly relationship that has come to the fore. Little wonder, a lot of people here used to say El-Rufai is my model, that I copied a lot from El-Rufai.
“It’s not bad for any son to copy from his uncle (father), especially the good deeds of his uncle. I’m very proud of you, your Excellency and no matter what, nobody will doubt and history will tell you that you are among those leaders that transformed this country, saved and built a foundation on which proper development will be laid for generations yet unborn to come and live happily”.
He noted that replicating El-Rufai’s strides would encourage development across board, adding, “I’m sure copying from you, not only in Gombe State but elsewhere, will be able to uplift humanity and move forward together with the rest of the developed world”.
Yahaya assured GOGIS of his continued support towards achieving its set objectives.
“I’m happy to say that the successes recorded in GOGIS will continue because we have the political will to sustain and support GOGIS and take it forward”, he said.
El-Rufai commended Yahaya for inviting him for the commissioning, expressing hope that in the next two years, the ideals of the organisation would have been achieved in reorganising land acquisition in the state.
“It’s important to know how much land you have, to allow development and increase revenue”, he observed.
