- El-Rufai said he had never had a personal or political relationship with President Tinubu and insisted his support during the 2023 campaign was based on party principles.
- He criticized the government’s philosophy of governance, noting that their values were fundamentally incompatible.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has clarified that he never had a personal or political relationship with President Bola Tinubu, saying their paths were never aligned.
In an interview with Trust TV, El-Rufai dismissed suggestions that he and Tinubu were friends or political allies.
“I think it’s important to clarify this. There’s an assumption that I was once friends with Tinubu. But I’m not. We never got along with Tinubu. We never had a personal relationship.” he said.
El-Rufai explained that his role in Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign is driven by party principles and discipline within the All Progressives Congress (APC) rather than personal loyalty.
“For me, Tinubu initially was just an aspirant for the party. Certain Islamic stakeholders from the South-West approached me and asked me to support the emergence of a Muslim presidential candidate from the South-West,he said, noting that his support was based on the understanding that power would shift to the south after Buhari’s eight-year term.
He added, “My principle is that in every election, I will fight for the victory of the candidate of my party, whether I like the candidate or not. Tinubu became the candidate and I gave everything to ensure that he won. That’s what I did.”
However, El-Rufai said fundamental differences in their values and governance philosophies make long-term coordination impossible.
“We are not falling out. We just cannot find areas of agreement. There is no balance. We cannot agree,” he explained, criticizing the approach of Tinubu’s government.
“I’m in government for delivery, 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 tribesmen,” he said.
El-Rufai further revealed that even if he accepted the ministerial appointment, he would not stay for long, stressing that the government’s philosophy conflicts with his principles.
“Even if Tinubu’s offer to me as minister had been approved, I would have left the government long ago. The philosophy of this government goes against everything I accept as a Muslim, a Northerner and a Nigerian.” he said.
He concluded, “These people are not here to govern. They are here purely to enrich themselves. We are different people. So, anyone who knows me and knows Tinubu will not be surprised that we are parallel lines that will never intersect.”
