I Declined To Make El-Rufai My Successor In 2007 Due To His Immaturity – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that he refused to make former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, his successor in 2007, saying the former minister was not mature enough for the position at the time.

Obasanjo made this known on Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the second edition of the Ajibosin Platform annual symposium, themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance.”

He explained that former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had proposed El-Rufai as his successor, but he turned down the idea, stressing that El-Rufai still needed more experience.

During Obasanjo’s tenure, El-Rufai served first as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and later as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007.

When Obasanjo left office in 2007, he supported the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as president.

At the event, Chidoka, who delivered the keynote address, recounted how El-Rufai had introduced him to Obasanjo when he was 34 years old, leading to his appointment as the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Obasanjo, addressing the audience, teased Chidoka for skipping the part about El-Rufai in his speech.

“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, turning to Chidoka and asking, “Is that not true?” Chidoka nodded in agreement.

Obasanjo then explained that he ignored the recommendation because El-Rufai was still young and needed time to grow.

“I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needed to mature. You remember?

“When I left the 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 said.

Despite his earlier reservations, Obasanjo praised both Chidoka and El-Rufai, commending their intelligence, courage, and contributions during his administration.

Speaking on the theme of leadership, Obasanjo emphasized that effective leadership depends on character, experience, exposure, and training.

He lamented that unlike other professions, politics in Nigeria lacks a proper system for leadership training.

“It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is apprenticeship. But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough,” Obasanjo said.

In his keynote address, Chidoka blamed Nigeria’s challenges on what he called “the politics of excuses,” arguing that real leadership is measured not by speeches or charisma, but by the systems and institutions it builds.

The convener of the symposium, Aare Olanrewaju Bakinson, said the event was aimed at exploring how leadership shapes nations, stressing that leadership should be driven by vision, service, and responsibility.

Dignitaries at the event included Senator Shuaibu Salis representing Ogun Central, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom Oba Saka Matemilola, the Olota of Ota Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, and former Ogun State First Lady, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun.

KanyiDaily had also reported how Olusegun Obasanjo once lashed out at billionaire Femi Otedola over claims of a nationwide diesel shortage following the deregulation of the product.