I can’t become a senator because I don’t know how to persuade – El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, shared an insight as to why he didn’t take a cue from his colleagues who resorted to the National Assembly after exhausting their constitutional limit of two terms as governors.

He made this revelation said in Abuja, on Monday, December 12 at the second edition of the ‘Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture’ organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.

“I know that many of our colleagues; governors retire to the Senate. I can assure you that I will never retire to the legislature because I don’t think I will function there. So, I really have great respect for those in the legislature and have it function,”

El-Rufai, who will hand over power to the would-be governor in the state on May 29, 2023, stated that being a legislator is a herculean task which as well demand patience.

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“The legislature is one branch of government I know I can never function. The hard work needed to convince people to support even your motion is something some of us have no patience for.

“You know management in the executive is very straightforward; it is very hierarchical and once you are a governor, your word is almost law. In the legislature, everybody is equal and there is no leadership or management more difficult than managing your equals.

“I don’t envy Mr Speaker and the Senate president at all because their job is perhaps is the hardest job in this country. Managing equals is difficult, managing subordinates is very easy, you can hire and fire but managing equals is not,” the governor said.

The National Assembly has been touted a ‘retirement home’ for former governors who ride on the power of incumbency to win Senatorial and House of Representatives elections.

At present, the National Assembly houses about 20 former governors.