Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has opened up on the reported rift between him and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that their differences were not rooted in personal issues.
El-Rufai spoke during an interview with Trust TV, where he explained that he never shared a close personal bond with the president.
“I was never Tinubu’s friend. We never had a personal relationship like the one I had with General Buhari,” El-Rufai said.
He stated that his decision to support Tinubu’s presidential ambition was based on political principles and prior party arrangements rather than friendship.
“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.
The former governor added that once Tinubu secured the APC presidential ticket, he committed himself fully to the party’s success in line with his long-held political stance.
“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 further explained that the disagreement between them centred on governance style and ideological orientation.
“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 also disclosed that even if he had accepted the ministerial appointment earlier offered to him by the president, he would still have exited the administration because of those deep-seated differences.
