Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed claims that he ever had a personal or political relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the two were never friends and never aligned in values or governance philosophy.
El-Rufai, a chieftain of the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the clarification during an interview on Trust TV, where he addressed long-standing assumptions about his association with the President.
“I think it’s important to make this clarification. There is an assumption that I was ever Tinubu’s friend. I was not. We never got along with Tinubu. We never had a personal relationship,” El-Rufai said.
Why El-Rufai Supported Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Bid
According to the former governor, his involvement in Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign was not based on friendship or loyalty, but on party discipline and political principle within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“For me, Tinubu was initially just an aspirant of the party. I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the Southwest and asked to support the emergence of a Southwest Muslim presidential candidate,” he stated.
El-Rufai explained that his decision was guided by an internal understanding within the APC that power would rotate to the South after eight years of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
“As one of the founders of the APC, I knew that we had an understanding with the South, specifically the Southwest, that after eight years of Buhari, power would go to the South. It was a matter of principle. It wasn’t about Tinubu,” he said.
“I Fought for My Party’s Candidate”
El-Rufai noted that once Tinubu emerged as the APC’s presidential candidate, he committed himself fully to ensuring the party’s victory, regardless of personal feelings.
“It is a principle of mine that I fight for the candidate of my party in every election to win, whether I like the candidate or not. Tinubu emerged as the candidate, and I gave everything to ensure that he won. And that’s what I did,” El-Rufai said.
Irreconcilable Differences in Governance Philosophy
Despite his campaign support, the former governor revealed that deep differences in values and governance approach eventually made any long-term alignment with Tinubu impossible.
“We didn’t fall out. We just could not find areas of agreement. There was no equilibrium. We couldn’t agree,” he explained.
El-Rufai was particularly critical of what he described as the governing philosophy of the current administration, arguing that it contradicts his understanding of public service.
“I am in government for delivery, for results and performance. Public service is not about making money for yourself. It’s not about stealing. It’s not about appointing your cronies or your tribesmen,” he said.
Ministerial Appointment Would Have Been Short-Lived
He further disclosed that even if his proposed appointment into Tinubu’s cabinet had materialised, he would not have remained in office for long.
“Even if the offer that Tinubu made to me to be a minister had gone through, I would have left the government long ago. The philosophy of this government is contrary to everything I have been taught as a Muslim, as a northerner, and as a Nigerian,” El-Rufai declared.
According to him, the stark contrast in values between both men made sustained cooperation impossible.
“These guys didn’t come to govern. They came to enrich themselves, pure and simple. We are different people. So it should not surprise anybody that knows me and knows Tinubu to see that we are parallel lines that will never meet,” he said.
