El-Rufai Explains Rift with Tinubu: “We Never Had a Personal Relationship, Philosophy Divides Us”

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has opened up about his differences with President Bola Tinubu, insisting that their fallout was never personal but rooted in contrasting governance philosophies.

Speaking on Trust TV, El-Rufai clarified that he and Tinubu never shared a close personal bond. “I was never Tinubu’s friend. We never had a personal relationship like the one I had with General Buhari,” he said.

El-Rufai explained that his initial support for Tinubu during the APC presidential primaries was driven by principle and regional considerations rather than personal affinity. He recalled that Islamic stakeholders from the southwest approached him to back a southwest Muslim presidential candidate, and as a founding member of the APC, he understood that after eight years of President Buhari, power was expected to return to the south. “It wasn’t about Tinubu; he was merely an accidental beneficiary,” he said.

Highlighting his commitment to party unity, El-Rufai stressed that once Tinubu became the party’s candidate, he supported him fully. “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.

However, El-Rufai noted that his differences with Tinubu emerged from governance philosophy. “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,” he stated.

He further revealed that even if he had accepted a ministerial position offered by Tinubu, he would have eventually left due to these fundamental disagreements.