I’ve Never Had Personal or Political Ties with Tinubu — El-Rufai
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said he has never had a personal or political relationship with President Bola Tinubu, dismissing claims that both men were once friends or allies.
El-Rufai, a chieftain of the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the clarification during an interview on Trust TV, where he insisted that their political paths were never aligned.
“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. We never had a personal relationship,” he said.
The former governor explained that his support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election was based on political principle rather than personal loyalty.
“For me, Tinubu was initially just an aspirant of the party. I was approached by some Islamic stakeholders from the Southwest to support the emergence of a Southwest Muslim presidential candidate,” El-Rufai said.
He added that his decision was anchored on an internal understanding within the All Progressives Congress (APC) that power would shift to the South after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“As one of the founders of the APC, I knew we had an understanding that after Buhari’s eight years, power would go to the South, particularly the Southwest. It wasn’t about Tinubu; it was about principle,” he stated.
According to El-Rufai, once Tinubu emerged as the APC candidate, he worked fully for the party’s victory.
“It is my principle to fight for the candidate of my party to win, whether I like the candidate or not. Tinubu emerged, and I gave everything to ensure he won,” he said.
However, El-Rufai said deep differences in values and governance philosophy later created an irreconcilable divide between them.
“We didn’t fall out. We just could not agree. There was no equilibrium,” he explained.
He criticised the governing style of the Tinubu administration, describing it as inconsistent with his understanding of public service.
“Public service is about delivery, results and performance. It’s not about making money, stealing, or appointing cronies or tribesmen,” he said.
El-Rufai further claimed that even if his proposed ministerial appointment had materialised, he would have eventually resigned.
“The philosophy of this government is contrary to everything I have been taught as a Muslim, a northerner and a Nigerian,” he said.
He concluded that their differences made any long-term political alignment impossible.
“These are parallel lines that will never meet,” El-Rufai declared.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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