Salihu Isa Nataro, a former APC governorship candidate in Kebbi State, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to persuade former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, to return to the APC and align with his administration.
Nataro said the ongoing political realignment in the North makes it crucial for Tinubu to focus on the North-West zone.
He noted that after the removal of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as APC national chairman, the region lacks a strong political ally for the President.
He also expressed concern over speculation that former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, might join a coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Even if incumbent Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf defects to the APC, a significant vacuum for zonal influence would remain,” Nataro said.
Addressing el-Rufai’s estrangement from Tinubu, Nataro attributed it to envy and political detractors.
He acknowledged that the former Kaduna governor’s only notable misstep was using foreign loans for urban beautification projects, but said this should not overshadow his record of public service.
“The narrative should have been different if el-Rufai had invested that huge loan amount to reform education and agriculture or establish cottage industries in the state.”
“But, overall, that little mistake does not detract from his excellent performance as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration,” Nataro said.
He emphasized that el-Rufai could play a key role in boosting Tinubu’s electoral prospects in the North-West.
“There is much work to be done in the North-West geopolitical zone to properly market my boss, Tinubu. I am convinced that el-Rufai can play that role effectively. I am therefore using this opportunity to impress it upon the President, as one of his ardent supporters in the region, that el-Rufai should be brought back to his camp now,” he added.
Nataro further suggested that a Tinubu/el-Rufai joint ticket would be unbeatable in the zone.
“A Tinubu/El-Rufai ticket is reliable and cannot be surmounted by any other, even if Goodluck Jonathan joins the race. Going by Nigeria’s Constitution, Jonathan has already completed his second term in office. But even if he contests, I do not think he would select a running mate from the North-West, because Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, has already emerged as national chairman from the zone,” he said.
