By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that he once declined a proposal to back former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as his successor after the completion of his tenure in 2007.
Speaking on Friday, Obasanjo said he turned down the idea because he believed El-Rufai was not yet mature enough to take on the demanding responsibilities of governing a country like Nigeria.
El-Rufai, who served in Obasanjo’s administration between 1999 and 2007 — first as Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and later as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory — was one of the notable figures in his cabinet during that period.
Obasanjo made the revelation while speaking at the second edition of the Ajibosin Platform Annual Symposium held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, was the keynote speaker.
During his presentation, Chidoka narrated how El-Rufai had introduced him to Obasanjo when he was 34 years old — a meeting that paved the way for his eventual appointment as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Interrupting Chidoka’s remarks, Obasanjo interjected to share an omitted detail.
“Let him tell you. He didn’t mention that. He was pushing when I was leaving government that his friend, El-Rufai, should be brought in as my successor,” Obasanjo said, turning to Chidoka.
Addressing him directly, the former president asked with a smile, “No be so (Is that not true)?” to which Chidoka nodded in agreement.
Obasanjo went on to explain that he refused to accept the suggestion because he felt El-Rufai needed more time to develop politically and personally.
“I did not yield to the pressure. Later, he said, ‘I suggested this person, why didn’t you agree?’ I said El-Rufai needs to mature. You remember?
“When I left government and, many years later, he saw the performances of El-Rufai, he came back to me and said, ‘You’re absolutely correct. El-Rufai needed to mature,’” Obasanjo recalled.
The former president commended Chidoka, El-Rufai, and other members of his former team, describing them as individuals with exceptional qualities that contributed immensely to the success of his administration.
Reflecting on leadership, Obasanjo emphasised that those aspiring to public office must possess character, exposure, experience, and proper training.
“It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is an apprenticeship. But it’s only in politics that there is no training in leadership. That’s not good enough,” he said.
In his keynote address, Chidoka argued that Nigeria’s persistent challenges stem not from a lack of ideas but from the failure to build strong and enduring systems and institutions.
“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind.
“Moral conviction must translate into the everyday machinery of governance—rules, routines, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult.
“Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it is the absence of systems strong enough to outlive their authors,” Chidoka said.
He urged the country to adopt mechanisms that hold leaders accountable based on tangible outcomes rather than rhetoric.
“We must therefore make leadership accountable not to rhetoric but to results: measure by building national dashboards and accountability systems that track every promise, every budget, every outcome. Monitor by strengthening the institutions that evaluate government performance and expose complacency,” he added.