Why I Rejected El-Rufai as My Successor — Obasanjo Reveals

Obasanjo revealed that Osita Chidoka had recommended Nasir El-Rufai as a potential successor, but he declined the suggestion.
The former president said El-Rufai needed more experience and maturity to handle the complexities of national leadership.
Speaking on leadership and governance, Obasanjo stressed the importance of character, exposure, and training in preparing effective leaders.
Chidoka highlighted that Nigeria’s leadership problem stems from weak systems that fail to sustain good governance.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has opened up on why he rejected the idea of having Nasir El-Rufai, a former Kaduna State governor, as his successor after leaving office.

Speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo disclosed that Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation, once proposed El-Rufai for the presidency during the final days of his administration. According to him, the idea was dismissed because he believed El-Rufai was not yet ready for the role.

“Let him tell you,” Obasanjo said while referring to Chidoka at the event. “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. I didn’t yield to the pressure because El-Rufai needed to mature.”

Obasanjo noted that years later, Chidoka admitted he had been right about El-Rufai’s need for further growth before assuming such a major national responsibility.

The former president, however, commended both men for their talent, intelligence, and contributions to his administration, describing them as part of a generation of young Nigerians who played key roles in his government’s success.

Speaking on the importance of leadership in governance, Obasanjo lamented that politics in Nigeria often lacks structured training for future leaders. “Even among armed robbers, there is apprenticeship. But in politics, there’s no structured training for leadership, and that’s a major problem,” he stated.

Delivering the keynote address, Chidoka blamed Nigeria’s persistent challenges on what he called the politics of excuses and lack of institutional continuity. He emphasized that true leadership must be measured by the systems and institutions left behind, not mere charisma or speeches.

“Moral conviction must translate into rules and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult,” Chidoka added. “Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas but the absence of strong systems to sustain them.”

The event, themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance,” drew several dignitaries, including Senator Shuaibu Salis, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola, the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, and former Ogun First Lady, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun.