Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said he got the consent of former President Muhammadu Buhari before he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

El-Rufai dumped the APC on Monday and announced his membership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) the same day.

In his resignation statement, the former governor said he took the decision because development in the APC shows that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the party to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation in the party.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai before he left the APC, he paid a visit to Buhari to inform him.

He said,“I left the APC with his full knowledge. I visited him on a Friday and informed him of my decision to leave the party, because I involve and consult with him on all my matters.”

He recalled how he submitted his list of nominated commissioners to Buhari to point out if anyone of them had insulted him in the past.

“After going through the list, he nodded his approval and offered prayers. I consult with him in all I do,” he added.

Asked if he had any political godfather, El-Rufa’i said, “I have those I consult with in everything I do. I inform them of anything I intend to do, and when they demand that I keep off, I do. My first godfather is Muhammadu Buhari. For the rest, I will not mention them because if I do, they’ll be pressured.”

When asked if he had regretted supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, El-Rufa’i said, “I haven’t regretted it, but I have been taken by surprise. But why I don’t regret supporting him is, some Yoruba leaders from the South West had visited Kaduna and informed me that the Muslims of their region were being politically marginalised. That was the first reason I supported Tinubu.

“The second reason is this: We agreed that the 2023 presidential seat would be zoned to the Southern part of the Nigeria for fairness, balance and justice in the country.”

ASA