El-Rufai: I’m not interested in 2023 election — presidency stressful for 62-year-old

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says the job of a president is arduous for a 62-year-old person. 

El-Rufai made the comment when responding to a question on if he has plans to become president in 2023.

The governor said his job as a governor of a single state is telling on him, talk more of that of the president of Nigeria.

According to him, the stress of being a governor caused his hair to turn gray in six years.

“Look at my grey hair. If you see my picture when I was sworn in, my hair was very black but look at how it has become. This is a very difficult job and that is just state governor — one state out of 36,” he said.

“A big one, yes; a difficult one, yes, but it is not the same as Nigeria. Presidency of Nigeria is a very serious job, it is too much for a 62-year-old.

Asked if he is interested in the office of the vice-president, he said: “I have not thought about it at all. I have said it that in the political system we have, after eight years of President Buhari, the presidency should go to the south”.

But el-Rufai campaigned for President Muhammadu Buhari who was 73 years old during the 2015 presidential election.

He also campaigned for the reelection of Buhari who was 77 in 2019.

By the time Buhari completes his second term in office, he will be 81 years old — the oldest president to rule Nigeria.