I gained’t publicise issues I’ve carried out for El-Rufai and I’ve by no means spoken unwell of him — Governor Uba Sani

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has mentioned he is not going to disclose the personal steps he has taken to show help for his detained predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that he continues to carry the previous governor in excessive regard regardless of their political variations.

Speaking on Trust TV’s Daily Politics, Sani mentioned he thought of it inappropriate to publicise each motion he had taken out of respect for El-Rufai. The governor was responding to questions on his perceived silence over his predecessor’s continued detention and whether or not he feared El-Rufai’s political affect forward of the 2027 normal elections.

“As a matter of respect, many things I’ve done to show my respect for him, my regard for him, I don’t think I should come out and say it. Because when you respect someone, you don’t come out to say certain things,” Sani mentioned. El-Rufai has been within the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission since February 18, 2026. Attempts to safe his bail have up to now been unsuccessful.

During the interview, Sani additionally distanced himself from a reported remark suggesting that the previous governor ought to stay in detention till after the following normal election. He mentioned the individual answerable for the comment “was speaking for himself. He’s not speaking for me”.

Sani maintained that he had by no means spoken towards El-Rufai and wouldn’t achieve this, saying his method mirrored his character and respect for political leaders. “This is who I am. When I hold a person in high regard, everything good I have said about him, I stand by it. When I was in the Senate, I said a lot of good things about my leaders, and I stand by them,” he mentioned. “One good thing I am happy about is that people can only quote me saying good things about people, but they have never quoted me saying bad things about my leaders.”

The governor added that he most popular to be remembered for talking positively about these he revered. “I think it is better you quote me saying good things about my leaders than hear me saying bad things about them. It is something I always pray to God not to let me do. For me, that is my character,” he mentioned.

His remarks come amid a protracted political disagreement between the previous allies, whose relationship deteriorated after Sani succeeded El-Rufai as governor in 2023. El-Rufai, who ruled Kaduna from 2015 to 2023, supported Sani’s election to the Senate in 2019 and his subsequent governorship ambition.

Sani had additionally served as a political adviser throughout El-Rufai’s first time period as governor. However, disagreements grew to become more and more public following the transition, significantly over the monetary obligations Sani mentioned his administration inherited and an investigation launched by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

In March 2024, Sani mentioned his authorities inherited $587 million in debt, ₦85 billion in home liabilities and 115 contractual liabilities from the earlier administration. The meeting subsequently established a committee to look at loans, grants and venture implementation throughout El-Rufai’s eight years in workplace.

The relationship worsened in February 2025 when El-Rufai publicly mentioned he was not pals with Sani. He additionally criticised the governor’s defence of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging that federal reimbursements and different interventions benefiting Kaduna had influenced Sani’s political place. Sani rejected that suggestion and continued to defend the Federal Government’s interventions.

El-Rufai later left the All Progressives Congress, which he helped set up, and moved into opposition politics. Following a short interval within the Social Democratic Party, he formally joined the African Democratic Congress in November 2025. Sani has remained within the APC, additional widening the political divide between them.

The former governor has since grow to be a outstanding critic of the Tinubu administration and took part in opposition efforts forward of the 2027 elections. His continued detention has drawn consideration to each the allegations towards him and the potential implications for political alignments in Kaduna and throughout the nation.

The ICPC took El-Rufai into custody in February whereas investigating alleged monetary offences. The fee has mentioned his detention is supported by court docket orders. El-Rufai has challenged facets of the investigation and his detention and has denied wrongdoing within the circumstances towards him.

In one case, the ICPC accused him, a former aide and 5 company entities of alleged corruption and cash laundering linked with an ₦8.68 billion closed-circuit tv surveillance contract for Kaduna metropolis. The allegations stay topic to judicial dedication.