Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai has stated that he never shared either a personal or political bond with President Bola Tinubu, dismissing suggestions that they were once close associates. Speaking during a recent television interview, el-Rufai described their relationship as distant and fundamentally incompatible.
He clarified that his support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election was not rooted in friendship or loyalty but in party commitment and principle. According to him, his backing of Tinubu followed internal party understandings within the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding power rotation after former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
El-Rufai explained that as one of the founding members of the APC, he believed it was appropriate for the presidency to shift to the South after eight years of northern leadership. He noted that once Tinubu emerged as the party’s candidate, he felt obligated to work toward the party’s electoral success, regardless of personal preferences.
Despite that support, he stated that ideological and philosophical differences later became apparent. El-Rufai suggested that he and the President operate on fundamentally different governance principles, which made long-term political alignment difficult.
He further indicated that even if his proposed ministerial appointment had been confirmed, he would likely not have remained in the administration due to what he described as irreconcilable differences in values and public service philosophy.
The former governor was particularly critical of what he characterised as the administration’s governing approach, asserting that his own understanding of leadership centres on performance, accountability, and results-driven service.
Concluding his remarks, el-Rufai described himself and the President as “parallel lines,” suggesting that their political philosophies and personal convictions were too divergent to ever converge.
