Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, has reminded those in power that their time in office is temporary, urging them to act justly and remember that “power is transient”.

El-Rufai spoke in Abuja on Thursday at the public presentation of Mohammed Bello Adoke’s memoir titled “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 billion Nigerian Oil Block”.

He said Adoke, a former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, deserves commendation rather than persecution for his contributions to the country’s democracy.

“Everyone knows that Mohammed Bello Adoke was one of those that stood and persuaded President Jonathan to actually concede the 2015 elections,” el-Rufai said.

“So, we should actually thank him as the APC government of 2015, not persecute him.”

Reflecting on his own experience in government, el-Rufai said public service is often met with betrayal and abandonment.

“About 12 years ago in this hall, I presented ‘The Accidental Public Servant’, which was a record of my experience in public service at the time, which showed how friends abandon you, betray you, and how those that you’ve been good to turn around against you,” he said.

“And everyone told me I made a mistake, that I will never go near public service again. Because in Nigeria, when you are in government, you eat, you keep quiet, and you come back, and you remain silent.”

El-Rufai maintained that he had no regrets about his time in office and insisted that Adoke had nothing to hide.

“I don’t think I had anything to hide in public service, yes. I still don’t,” he said.

“And I know Bello Adoke has nothing to hide. So, you can write a book like that and hold your head high, because you know you did nothing wrong while holding public office.”

He urged current leaders to remember the fleeting nature of power and to uphold integrity while in office.