Former Kaduna State governor and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nasir El-Rufai has said there was no personal fallout between him and President Bola Tinubu, stating that they never had a personal relationship.
Mr El-Rufai spoke on Monday during an interview on Trust TV, where he said his support for President Tinubu’s 2023 presidential ambition was based on party loyalty and political arrangements within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“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 involvement in Tinubu’s emergence followed consultations ahead of the election, particularly after appeals from Islamic stakeholders in the South West.
“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,” he said.
El-Rufai said zoning considerations within the APC after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure made a southern presidency expected.
“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.
He noted that once Tinubu emerged as the APC presidential candidate, he supported him in line with his 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,” he said.
El-Rufai said disagreements arose after the election, adding that the issues were rooted in differences over governance.
“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,” he said.
He added that the approach of the current administration differed from his views on public service.
“The philosophy of this government is contrary to everything I’ve been taught as a Muslim, a northerner, and a Nigerian,” he said.
El-Rufai also said his refusal to accept a ministerial appointment from Tinubu followed the same reasoning.
“If I had accepted the ministerial position that was publicly offered to me, I would have resigned shortly after. Our philosophies of governance are different,” he said.
El-Rufai served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and was Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007.
He was a founding member of the APC and played a role in party negotiations ahead of the 2023 general election.
