In a viral video, former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, discloses that he and several northern governors employed religion as a political strategy to secure Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
El-Rufai explains that the aim of using religion in this manner was to address the issues of tribalism and religious bias in Nigerian politics. Speaking in Hausa at an event in Kaduna before handing over to his successor, El-Rufai emphasizes that the decision to use religion was driven by a desire to provide a sense of inclusion for South West Muslims in governance.
He further asserts that the Muslim/Muslim ticket, which contributed to his own political success in Kaduna, has now been replicated on a national scale with Tinubu as president and Kashim Shetima as vice president. El-Rufai highlights that their achievements in Kaduna have been extended to Nigeria as a whole, and he dismisses the notion that a Christian candidate can win an election solely on the basis of their religious affiliation, citing Peter Obi’s unsuccessful attempt.
El-Rufai recalls the agreement among northern governors to support a Yoruba Muslim from the South West as president, overcoming opposition from some quarters.