Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has clarified that he has never had a personal or political relationship with President Bola Tinubu, asserting that their paths were never meant to intersect.
El-Rufai, a prominent figure in the coalition-led African Democratic Congress, made the remarks during a television interview, dismissing claims that he and Tinubu were once friends or political allies.
“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,” he stated.
He explained that his involvement in Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign was motivated by political principles and party discipline within the All Progressives Congress, rather than personal loyalty.
“For me, Tinubu was initially just an aspirant of the party. I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the South-West and asked to support the emergence of a South-West Muslim presidential candidate,” El-Rufai said.
The former governor said his support was based on a party understanding that power would shift to the South after eight years under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“As one of the founders of the APC, I knew that we had an understanding with the South, specifically the South-West, that after eight years of Buhari, power would go to the South. It was a matter of principle. It wasn’t about Tinubu,” he explained.
He added that once Tinubu became the party’s candidate, he dedicated himself to ensuring APC’s victory.
“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.
However, he noted that fundamental differences in values and governance philosophy eventually created a wide gulf between them.
“We didn’t fall out. We just could not find areas of agreement. There was no equilibrium. We couldn’t agree,” he stated.
El-Rufai criticized what he described as the governing philosophy of the Tinubu administration, saying it contradicted 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 remarked.
He also revealed that even if a ministerial position offered by Tinubu had gone through, it would not have lasted.
“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.
He emphasized that the stark contrast in values between him and the President made any long-term alignment 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 concluded.
