Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has clarified the reasons behind his reported disagreements with President Bola Tinubu, stating that the differences were not personal but rooted in principle and governance philosophy.
Speaking during an interview with Trust TV, El-Rufai said he and the President never shared a close personal relationship, drawing a contrast with his association with former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“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 support for Tinubu’s presidential ambition was based on political principle rather than personal affinity. According to him, discussions around Tinubu’s candidacy began following approaches from Islamic stakeholders in the Southwest who sought support for the emergence of a Southwest Muslim presidential candidate.
“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 emphasised that once Tinubu emerged as the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, he remained committed to ensuring the party’s victory, consistent with his long-held political principle.
“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, who served two terms in Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, further explained that his differences with Tinubu stem from divergent governance philosophies rather than any personal dispute.
“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 had he accepted the ministerial position publicly offered to him by Tinubu, he would have eventually resigned due to what he described as fundamental philosophical disagreements with the administration.
El-Rufai’s remarks come amid ongoing political realignments within the APC and public debates over governance direction, party cohesion and the implementation of key policy reforms under the current administration.
