Former Kaduna State Governor and ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, has dispelled claims of a personal friendship with President Bola Tinubu, saying his support for Tinubu’s 2023 presidential bid was based on party unity and political strategy rather than close personal ties.
In an interview on Trust TV on Monday, El-Rufai said he did not have a personal relationship with the president, unlike the bond he once shared with former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He explained that his backing of Tinubu during the APC presidential contest was motivated by internal party consultations and broader political agreements, not personal loyalty.
El-Rufai stated that he was initially approached by influential Islamic stakeholders from the Southwest to back a Muslim presidential candidate from the region, and that this began his involvement in discussions that eventually led to support for Tinubu.
As a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor, he said he understood a power-rotation agreement that followed President Buhari’s two terms, which made a southern presidency a widely accepted outcome. Tinubu, he said, became a beneficiary of that arrangement.
Once Tinubu secured the APC nomination, El-Rufai said he campaigned for him out of political principle, noting his commitment to support the party’s chosen candidate whether or not he was a personal fan.
However, he said real differences emerged after the election, rooted in divergent philosophies of leadership and governance rather than personal betrayal.
El-Rufai explained that his goal in public office has always been to serve the public and produce results, and he sees his approach as distinct from what he describes as a leadership style focused on personal enrichment and cronyism.
It was this fundamental contrast, he said, that led him to reject a ministerial appointment under the Tinubu administration, adding that even if he had accepted, he would have left shortly after due to deep philosophical divides.
El-Rufai’s remarks offer insight into the internal dynamics within Nigeria’s ruling party and reflect wider debates over governance, loyalty and political principles as the country approaches its next general elections.