# El-Rufai’s former Chief of Staff denies betraying him as he claims former Kaduna Governor used his structure to win elections

- Link: https://viralbrief.top/el-rufais-former-chief-of-staff-denies-betraying-him-as-he-claims-former-kaduna-governor-used-his-structure-to-win-elections/
- Published: 2026-10-22T01:23:46+00:00
- Author: Olamide

Bashir Saidu, a former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai,
has denied betraying his former principal following their political split. Speaking
in an interview with RFI Hausa, Saidu said their relationship extended beyond politics
to family ties, but alleged that he and other former allies left because they felt
undervalued.

His comments followed El-Rufai’s reported complaint that some people he had supported
during difficult periods had abandoned him. The former governor is currently in 
detention. Saidu maintained that he and El-Rufai jointly built the political structure
that helped the former governor attain office.

He also cited his own periods in custody, saying he had spent 50 days in prison 
on one occasion and another 54 days after his bail was revoked. “I also spent the
last Eid-Adha in prison. It is an outright lie to say we abandoned him,” he said.
Saidu alleged that the breakdown in their relationship arose after they concluded
that their loyalty was not being reciprocated.

“We learnt the person we submitted to did not value us. We moved where we are valued,”
he said. 

 

He dismissed criticism from people he said did not understand the depth of his relationship
with El-Rufai. “Those making the noise are not familiar with my relationship with
Mallam. It has graduated to family level,” he added.

Saidu further claimed that he was among those who persuaded El-Rufai to enter politics,
noting that his own political involvement dated back to the Social Democratic Party
during the era of Moshood Abiola. He named several political figures whom he said
were familiar with that history, including Professor Ango Abdullahi, Madakin Zazzau
and San Turaki Babba.

The former chief of staff also disputed claims about the strength of El-Rufai’s 
political structure, arguing that his influence was overstated and that the former
governor remained indebted to his former allies. On the disagreement over political
succession, Saidu said his group had been working to secure the candidacy of Malam
Jaafaru without knowing that El-Rufai had already chosen another candidate.

 

 

 [Source link ](https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2026/10/el-rufais-former-chief-of-staff-denies-betraying-him-as-he-claims-former-kaduna-governor-used-his-structure-to-win-elections.html)

  TL;DR (AI Generated)

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai's former Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu,
has denied betraying his former principal following their political split.

Saidu stated that he and other allies left because they realized El-Rufai did not
value their loyalty, despite having jointly built the political structure that brought
him to power.

He also rejected claims that they abandoned El-Rufai during his current legal troubles,
noting that he himself had previously endured lengthy periods in prison.

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