Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor, has said he never had a personal relationship with President Bola Tinubu and he supported his 2023 presidential bid due to party loyalty and political arrangements.
While speaking during an interview on Trust TV on Monday, El-Rufai noted that his involvement stemmed from APC consultations and broader political considerations, including a zoning understanding that made a southern presidency inevitable after Buhari’s tenure.
“I was never Tinubu’s friend. We never had a personal relationship like the one I had with General Buhari of blessed memory.
“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 eight years of Buhari, power would return to the South. It wasn’t about Tinubu; he was merely an accidental beneficiary,” he said.
El-Rufai noted that once Tinubu secured the party’s ticket, he committed fully to the campaign in line with his political 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.”
However, he said disagreements emerged after the election, rooted in differing philosophies of 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 further disclosed that his decision to reject a ministerial appointment from President Tinubu was based on those same principles.
“If I had accepted the ministerial position that was publicly offered to me, I would have resigned shortly after. Our fundamental philosophies of governance are worlds apart,” he added
