Kaduna deputy gov shelves gubernatorial ambition, backs El-Rufai’s candidate

The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, has withdrawn from the governorship race of the state.

She has now endorsed Senator Uba Sani, Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s anointed candidate.

The deputy governor, was among the top three aspirants pencilled to succeed El-Rufai. She was said to have been offered to serve as Sani’s running mate but she declined the offer.

However, in what appears to be rapprochement, the deputy governor expressed support for El-Rufai’s candidate and implored her supporters to massively support the APC at all levels in the forthcoming 2023 elections.

“I want to extend very special appreciation to HE, Mal Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for the trust and belief in my capacity that led to my being his running mate/deputy. I believe his actions during this period has left no one in doubt that he has trust in me. These are privileges I will forever relish, cherish and hold dear, for the rest of my life,” she stated.

According to Daily Trust, Balarabe had rejected El-Rufai’s offer in the presence of other senior cabinet members, earlier in the week.

Despite communicating her rejection of the offer in manner that did not humiliate the governor, it was not well received

“This is a fence mending approach because some people are already selling the idea that there is a crack within El-Rufai’s cabinet and she needs to prove that it is one big family,” the media outlet quoted a source who’s familiar with the development to have said.

In her statement, the deputy governor appreciated individuals, youth groups, women groups, elderly person-groups as well as Christian and Muslim groups who raised their voices and sacrificed their resources to show support for her to join the 2023 race to Kashim Ibrahim House.

“To those that reached out personally and those I had the privilege of engaging on the workability of this project, I say thank you for the experience. I found strangers who became friends and a commitment to stay true no matter what. I do not take the moments we have shared for granted and I thank Allah for giving me the opportunity of meeting you. Your actions thus far only reaffirmed very critical issues for me, that you hold me in high esteem and that you have confidence in my abilities. May Allah continually shower His special grace and favors upon you all,”’ she stated.