Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is confident his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will win the Presidency and also retain its 24 states in 2019.
The governor said this in an exclusive interview which aired on Channels Television’s political flagship programme, Sunday Politics.
“I do not have any doubt in my mind that we are going to win the next elections; not only in the centre but we are going to present our 24 states, and even more,” he said.
“We are not saying this foolishly, this is scientific. We are monitoring the pulse of Nigerians, not the pulse of a section of Nigerians and I am confident that we are going to win the 2019 elections.”
Amid the criticism that has hit President Muhhamadu Buhari’s administration recently, El-Rufai believes the APC remains focused on delivering on its campaign promises to Nigerians.
He said Nigeria is divided into two, stressing that the disapproval is coming from a selected group of people while the Federal Government is conscious of the people’s stance.
The governor said: “We know the pulse of the nation, we know where we are losing support, we know where we are gaining support; I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to win the 2019 elections.
“There are two pulses of Nigerians – there is the pulse of the Nigerian elites which is the noise that you hear in the media, the social media and so on; then there is the pulse of the people.
“If you remember how many people came out to welcome President Buhari in Kano, then you will know that there are two Nigerias.”
Reacting to the explosive statement issued by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday last week, Governor El Rufai said he is yet to read it, noting that “it is too long and I am very busy.”
He said the Buhari administration is not disturbed by the statement as both the Presidency and the party have responded to the issues raised by the former president.
“You know (former) President Obasanjo is a Nigerian, he’s a patriot and he is entitled to his opinion just like every other Nigerian.
“We are moving on, we are planning to deliver on our promises and when the time comes we will be ready for the 2019 elections with whoever and whatever party that exists. There are 73 parties in Nigeria; we are going to face them and I’m confident as I said,” he reiterated.
The governor said he has been a loyalist to President Buhari and would continue to be “till death do us part (he jokes).”
He, however, said being one of those that have been asking the President to seek re-election was not because of what he stands to gain but in the interest of the people.
“I believe that it is in the overall interest of our party and the stability of Nigeria; It is not because I stand to gain or lose anything,” said El-Rufai. “But it is because in everything I’ve done since I got into public service, for me the interest of Nigeria comes first.
“God has given me everything through the instrumentality of this country – I don’t need anything as a person but what I need is to see a country that is making progress, that is stable and leave a legacy for our children to build on it,” he added.
