Bashir Saidu, a former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has claimed that several political associates played significant roles in helping the former governor rise to power.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Saidu argued that El-Rufai owes much to the individuals who helped build the political structure that supported his electoral victories, insisting that the former governor did not achieve his political success alone.

The former aide made the remarks during an interview with RFI Hausa, where he also dismissed allegations that he and other former associates had betrayed El-Rufai by withdrawing their political support.

According to Saidu, some members of their political circle had been actively involved in politics long before El-Rufai joined them and contributed substantially to the movement that eventually helped him secure power.

He maintained that those now accused of abandoning the former governor had made considerable sacrifices throughout their shared political journey.

“We begged him to join politics,” Saidu declared.

Reflecting on his political history, the former Chief of Staff said his involvement dated back to the era of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the political activities surrounding the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

He also cited Professor Ango Abdullahi and other prominent political figures as individuals familiar with the history of their political engagements.

Saidu further challenged the narrative that El-Rufai personally built and controlled the political structure responsible for his rise, insisting that the contributions of his associates should not be overlooked.

The former aide also rejected claims that he abandoned El-Rufai when the former governor faced difficulties, pointing to his own experiences with arrest and imprisonment.

He recalled being arrested on New Year’s Eve and spending 50 days in prison before his release. He said he subsequently faced several court proceedings, after which his bail was revoked, resulting in another 54 days behind bars.

Saidu added that he spent the most recent Eid-el-Adha celebration in prison.

“It is an outright lie to say we abandoned him,” he insisted.

Explaining the reasons behind the political fallout, Saidu said some former associates had become dissatisfied with what they perceived as a lack of appreciation for their loyalty and sacrifices.

He noted that his relationship with El-Rufai had extended beyond politics to a family-level bond, making the allegations of betrayal particularly troubling.

Saidu also identified disagreements over political succession as one of the factors that contributed to the collapse of their alliance.

According to him, members of their political camp had been supporting Malam Jaafaru as their preferred candidate in Kaduna State without knowing that El-Rufai had already chosen someone else.

He maintained that his decision to part ways with the former governor stemmed largely from his dissatisfaction with how El-Rufai treated the people who had supported his political journey.

Nollywood actress and evangelist Tonto Dikeh has opened up about her spiritual journey, addressing misconceptions surrounding when she gave her life to Christ.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The actress made this known during an interview with Kikelomo Abati, where she explained that her relationship with God began in childhood, long before her recent public declarations of faith.

According to Dikeh, her spiritual journey started at an early age, and she was close to becoming a pastor when she was just 17 years old.

She clarified that her recent expressions of faith should not be mistaken for a newly discovered relationship with God, insisting that her connection with Christ had existed for years.

The actress also explained that the messages she said she received from God were personal experiences that happened privately and were not intended to serve as public proof of her faith.

Speaking during the interview, Dikeh said: “Everything I said God told me, he told me in private, there’s a misconception about when I gave my life to Christ. I’ve always been with Christ, to the point where I was going to be ordained a pastor at 17 years old.”

In January 2026, the actress also spoke about her longstanding spiritual calling, revealing that she had come close to becoming a pastor at the age of 19 but eventually abandoned that path.

She explained that she had been attending church since leaving secondary school and had experienced a strong connection with God from an early age.

However, Dikeh acknowledged that personal struggles and life experiences eventually contributed to her drifting away from her faith.

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has predicted that Nigerians will reject African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 general election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Basiru compared the former vice president to Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, suggesting that the 2027 presidential election would be Atiku’s final attempt to become Nigeria’s president.

reports that the APC chieftain made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

During the interview, Basiru criticised Atiku’s professional background, describing him as a former tax collector who rose to the position of vice president without becoming an expert in any particular field.

He argued that holding the office of vice president does not automatically qualify someone as an expert.

Basiru also challenged Atiku’s economic claims, particularly his reported position that petrol should sell for ₦200 per litre, describing the proposal as unrealistic and accusing him of misleading Nigerians for political support.

Speaking during the programme, the APC national secretary said politicians should not make promises they cannot fulfil simply to win votes.

He further described Atiku as someone trained as a hygiene expert in Kano before working in the Nigeria Customs Service as a tax collector.

Questioning the former vice president’s professional credentials, Basiru urged Nigerians to examine his record and determine what he had accomplished beyond serving as vice president.

He said, “You shouldn’t lie to people just to get their votes. Atiku isn’t a professional; he was trained as a hygiene expert in Kano. He’s a ‘wole wole’ man, and we became tax collectors in Customs.

“Where is his expertise? What has he done? Check his profile. Being vice president doesn’t make you an expert.”

Basiru also invoked the political career of Odinga, who made several attempts to become Kenya’s president, to suggest that Atiku was approaching the end of his presidential ambitions.

According to him, the former vice president is contesting what could be his final presidential campaign and would eventually discover that Nigerians were unwilling to support his bid.

He maintained that Atiku would face rejection at the polls, although the outcome of the 2027 election will ultimately be determined by voters.