2023: I will only contest alongside Amaechi if Buhari insists – Gov El-Rufai

Ilesanmi AdekanbiMarch 9, 2022

1 minute read

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai on Wednesday revealed what will make him run in the 2023 presidential election.

El-Rufai while speaking on the general elections said he would only contest as a presidential aspirant or a running mate to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi if President Muhammadu Buhari insists.

The Kaduna State Governor, however, stated that he has no intention to contest in the presidential election.

El-Rufai disclosed this while speaking on Channels TV on Wednesday.

He said he is tired and needs to rest from politics when his tenure as Governor of Kaduna State ends in 2023.

The APC chieftain further stated that Amaechi is free to contest in the election, but noted that only President Buhari can convince him to join the race.

He said, “I’ve said over and over that I’m not a contestant for any office. I’m not aspiring for anything. If Governor Rotimi Amaechi is interested in running for any office, he has the right to do so. But I’m not running for anything and I’m not going to be on his ticket.”

When asked if he would run with Amaechi if President Buhari insists, El-Rufai said, “That would be a different conversation. I’ll explain to him why I don’t think it’s a good idea but of course, if he insists, I will. But I’m tired.

“I’m physically tired because I do take my work seriously. For the last eight years, I’ve worked myself flat out and I’m not young anymore.

“I’ll be 63 next year. So I prefer to look at other options to contribute to the development of my country but of course, I didn’t want to run for Governor but the President insisted so if he insists that I do something I have so much regard for him and his judgement that I’ll do it even reluctantly.”