‘I’ll be in private sector’ — el-Rufai says he’s not lobbying to be Tinubu’s chief of staff

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, says he is not lobbying to be the chief of staff to President-elect Bola Tinubu who would be sworn in on May 29.

El-Rufai spoke on Saturday while inaugurating some projects executed by the administration of Inuwa Yahawa in Gombe.

Online reports had claimed that the Kaduna governor was lobbying to be appointed as chief of staff by Tinubu.

El-Rufai said the reports were “speculations” and that he “will be in the private sector” after leaving office as governor.

“I have not had that discussion with the president-elect and I don’t like to speculate,” he said.

“I read in the newspapers all kinds of portfolios assigned to me but you know, I am a committed Nigerian.

“I want to see my country make progress and whatever I can do to contribute to the development of the country, I will do it.

“But I don’t have to do it working in government. Everyone who is working either in the private sector or civil society is contributing.

“There is not just one way to contribute to the country and I will never stop working for Nigeria’s progress.

“I will be in the private sector, not any chief of staff. I will take a break and advise people like governor Inuwa Yahaya if they need it.”