Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said he never had a personal relationship with President Bola Tinubu, clarifying that their reported differences were rooted in principles and governance philosophy, not personal animosity.
Speaking in an interview with Trust TV, El-Rufai stated plainly that he and Tinubu were never friends, stressing that his support for the President was based on party loyalty and political understanding rather than personal ties.
“I was never Tinubu’s friend. We never had a personal relationship like the one I had with General Buhari,” El-Rufai said.
He explained that his decision to support Tinubu’s presidential ambition stemmed from consultations and party arrangements ahead of the 2023 elections, not personal affection.
“I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the southwest to support the emergence of a southwest Muslim presidential candidate.
“That is how the discussions started. As governor of Kaduna and one of the founders of APC, I knew there was an understanding that after 8 years of Buhari, power would return to the south. It wasn’t about Tinubu; he was merely an accidental beneficiary,” he stated.
El-Rufai said once Tinubu emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, he committed himself fully to ensuring the party’s victory, in line with his principles.
“It is a principle of mine to fight for the candidate of my party in every election, whether I like the candidate or not.
“The fact that he emerged as the party’s candidate meant I would give everything to ensure he won,” he said.
The former governor noted, however, that his differences with Tinubu became evident after the election, stressing that they stemmed from divergent views on governance and public service.
“We didn’t fall out; we didn’t find areas of agreement. I am in government to serve the public and deliver results, not to enrich myself or appoint cronies.
“The philosophy of this government is contrary to everything I’ve been taught as a Muslim, a northerner, and a Nigerian. They came to govern the cake, to enrich themselves. We are different people, parallel lines that will never meet,” El-Rufai said.
He added that even if he had accepted the ministerial position publicly offered to him by the President, he would eventually have left the administration due to these fundamental differences in ideology and governance approach.
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