Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai says the difficult circumstances he has faced in recent months have given him a clearer understanding of some of his relationships, including with people he previously supported publicly.
El-Rufai made the remarks in a statement titled, “My Relationships and the Aftermath,” amid concerns over the silence of some colleagues, friends and family members with whom he has been closely associated.
He said he had spent much of his life supporting friends, colleagues, family members and causes he believed in, guided by his Islamic faith, Arewa upbringing, personal values and conscience.
According to him, his support for people was not based on expectations of praise, gratitude or reciprocity, but on his belief that standing by them was the right thing to do.
“By the same token, those I have supported are free to make their own choices now that circumstances are reversed. Some may speak; others may remain silent. Others may even deny our relationship or try rewriting history,” he said.
El-Rufai said he did not intend to judge those who had chosen not to support him, noting that their reasons were their own.
He, however, said the experience had caused him to reconsider some relationships and better understand what people who looked up to him expected from them.
“Adversity has a way of illuminating relationships. What I learn in difficult times like the past few months may lead me, quietly and without regret, to reconsider the nature of certain relationships,” he said.
The former governor stressed that he had no regrets about standing by people or causes whenever he believed doing so was right, adding that he would not allow the actions of others to alter the principles that had guided him.
“I bear no resentment towards anyone who chooses not to do the same for me,” he said.
El-Rufai also said he was not seeking revenge or retribution over any injustice, ingratitude or injury he might have suffered, leaving ultimate accountability to Almighty Allah.
“In the end, each of us must live with the choices we make, and posterity will render whatever verdict it sees fit. My only concern is to remain at peace with my conscience and, above all, with Almighty Allah,” he added.
