Yemi Obafemi
Former Kaduna State Governor and ex–Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, has said he never had a personal relationship with President Bola Tinubu.
He described their political alignment as purely party-based and driven by principle rather than friendship.
El-Rufai stated this during an interview on Trust TV on Monday.
According to the former governor, his relationship with Tinubu was never comparable to the close bond he shared 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 of blessed memory,” he said.
El-Rufai explained that his involvement in Tinubu’s presidential project began after he was approached by Islamic stakeholders from the South-West to support the emergence of a Muslim presidential candidate from the region.
According to him, as a former governor and one of the founders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), there was a clear understanding within the party that power would shift to the South after Buhari’s eight years in office.
“It wasn’t about Tinubu; he was merely an accidental beneficiary,” El-Rufai said.
He noted that despite personal differences, he worked for Tinubu’s victory because of his belief in party loyalty.
“It is a principle of mine to fight for the candidate of my party in every election, whether I like the candidate or not. Once he emerged, I gave everything to ensure he won,” he said.
El-Rufai dismissed claims of a fallout between him and the president, saying the real issue was a lack of shared values.
“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.
“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 parallel lines that will never meet,” El-Rufai stated.
He also revealed that had he accepted the ministerial position publicly offered to him, he would not have stayed long in office.
