Saidu made the remarks in an interview with RFI Hausa, following reports that El-Rufai had complained that some people he supported during difficult periods had abandoned him.
The former governor is currently in detention.
Saidu insisted that he and other former allies had not deserted El-Rufai but decided to move on after feeling that their loyalty and contributions were no longer appreciated.
He maintained that he and the former governor had jointly built the political structure that helped El-Rufai attain office.
The former chief of staff also cited his own experiences in custody, saying he had spent 50 days in prison on one occasion and another 54 days after his bail was revoked.
“I also spent the last Eid-Adha in prison. It is an outright lie to say we abandoned him,” he said.
Explaining the reasons for the political split, Saidu alleged that the group concluded that their loyalty was not being reciprocated.
“We learnt the person we submitted to did not value us. We moved where we are valued,” he said.
Saidu dismissed criticism from people he said were unfamiliar with the depth of his relationship with El-Rufai.
“Those making the noise are not familiar with my relationship with Mallam. It has graduated to family level,” he added.
He further claimed that he was among those who persuaded El-Rufai to venture into politics, noting that his own political involvement dated back to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the era of the late Moshood Abiola.
To support his account, Saidu mentioned several political figures whom he said were familiar with the history of his relationship with El-Rufai, including Professor Ango Abdullahi, Madakin Zazzau and San Turaki Babba.
The former chief of staff also challenged claims about the strength of El-Rufai’s political structure, arguing that the former governor’s influence had been overstated.
He further maintained that El-Rufai owed much of his political success to former allies who had helped build his political base.
Saidu also addressed the disagreement over political succession, saying his group had been working to secure the candidacy of Malam Jaafaru without knowing that El-Rufai had already selected another candidate.
His comments offer further insight into the political divisions between the former governor and some of his erstwhile associates, with Saidu insisting that their departure was driven by disagreements over recognition, loyalty and political decisions rather than betrayal.
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