By Muhammad Mamman
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has revealed a deeply personal reason behind his long-standing bond with Jos: love. Speaking at the inauguration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Contact and Mobilisation Office in Jos, he disclosed that for four decades he made weekly trips there — long before any political ambitions.
El-Rufai explained that his relationship with Plateau State began when his fiancée, now his wife, was posted to Jos for her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). “Forty years ago, I was visiting Plateau every week because my fiancée did her NYSC here in Jos,” he said. Even after they married, the couple continued to spend most weekends together in the city.
Yet, his memories of those early, idyllic days are tempered by regret. El-Rufai lamented that Jos and Plateau State have since experienced decline. “But since then, things have gone in the wrong direction in Jos, Plateau,” he told the audience, adding that he hopes renewed leadership will heal divisions and restore the area’s reputation as the “Home of Peace.”
Turning to national politics, El-Rufai did not shy away from criticism. He faulted both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), arguing that Nigerians are looking for a genuine alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He also dismissed recent high-profile defections by governors, suggesting that such moves pale in comparison to public sentiment. “The defections may be flashy, but what really matters is the mood of the electorate,” he asserted.
