Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has extended birthday wishes to his predecessor, Nasir el-Rufai, on the occasion of his 65th birthday, despite the ongoing rift between them.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sani wrote: “I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to my dear brother, friend, and predecessor, His Excellency, Malam Nasir @elrufai CON, on the occasion of his 65th birthday. I pray the Almighty Allah to continue to guide, protect, and strengthen His Excellency.”
Although el-Rufai was a strong supporter of Sani’s 2023 governorship bid, their relationship has soured since Sani assumed office.
The fallout became public when Sani accused el-Rufai’s administration of leaving huge debts and liabilities, which he claimed were hindering governance in the state. This led the Kaduna State House of Assembly to launch an investigation into allegations of public fund diversion and money laundering during el-Rufai’s tenure.
In response, el-Rufai has criticized Sani’s leadership. Recently, he accused the governor of being a sycophant to President Bola Tinubu.
Despite their political differences, Sani’s public message marks a rare gesture of goodwill between the two former allies.