Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has denied claims of an escalating dispute between him and his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, declaring that he has no personal differences with the former governor despite ongoing speculation about their relationship.
Sani disclosed this in an interview with Trust TV, where he reacted to reports claiming that relations between both politicians had worsened since he took over leadership of Kaduna State in May 2023.
The governor maintained that he had not made any statement against El-Rufai and questioned why their relationship was being presented as a major political controversy in the state.
“I have no problem with El-Rufai; I have never spoken against him,” Sani said.
He blamed the continued allegations of a disagreement on individuals he referred to as political jobbers, accusing them of twisting the situation and deliberately creating unnecessary political tension in Kaduna State.
Sani explained that his government was concentrating on administration and meeting the expectations of residents instead of participating in political quarrels or engaging in verbal confrontations with former public officeholders.
He further stated that he still holds El-Rufai in high regard as a former governor and political figure, stressing that their relationship should not be assessed based on rumours and claims circulating in the media.
The governor reiterated that maintaining peace, strengthening unity and ensuring that citizens benefit from democratic governance remain central to his administration. He urged residents to ignore suggestions that his government was involved in a personal confrontation with his predecessor.
Speculation surrounding their relationship has continued despite their history as political associates. El-Rufai supported Sani’s political ambitions and backed his candidacy in the 2023 governorship election after completing two terms as Kaduna governor between 2015 and 2023.
However, their relationship attracted increased attention after Sani’s administration began highlighting the financial commitments inherited from the previous government.
In March 2024, Sani announced that his administration had taken over $587 million in debt, N85 billion in domestic liabilities and 115 contractual obligations. He explained that the inherited commitments had placed considerable strain on the state’s finances and limited the government’s capacity to meet its responsibilities.
The announcement generated political reactions, with several of El-Rufai’s supporters criticising the incumbent governor. Bashir El-Rufai, the former governor’s son, also challenged Sani over his comments on the state’s inherited financial burden.
The situation became more contentious when the Kaduna State House of Assembly initiated an investigation into alleged financial irregularities under the previous administration. El-Rufai rejected the allegations, while the state government maintained that the lawmakers were carrying out their duties independently.
Sani subsequently clarified that his administration was not targeting his predecessor out of personal resentment, insisting that financial accountability was separate from private relationships.
The disagreement became more visible in February 2025 when El-Rufai declared that Sani was no longer his friend during an interview with Arise Television on February 24.
His remarks contradicted Sani’s earlier position. On February 4, 2025, the governor had described their relationship as cordial and insisted that there was no disagreement between them.
El-Rufai later criticised Sani’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging that federal interventions and reimbursements received by Kaduna State influenced the incumbent governor’s position.
