El-Rufai Denies Friendship With Tinubu

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State and a heavyweight in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has shed light on his political fallout with President Bola Tinubu, revealing that their relationship was never based on personal friendship. In a candid interview, El-Rufai explained that his initial support for Tinubu was rooted strictly in political principles rather than personal affinity, contrasting it sharply with his closer bond with former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former FCT Minister clarified that his backing of Tinubu during the 2023 election cycle stemmed from an understanding within the APC that power should rotate to the south after Buhari’s tenure. He claimed that Tinubu was merely an “accidental beneficiary” of this broader structural principle, which was pushed by stakeholders from the southwest who wanted a Muslim candidate from their region.

El-Rufai emphasized that his commitment to campaigning for Tinubu was a matter of party loyalty, pledging his support simply because Tinubu emerged as the standard-bearer, regardless of personal feelings. He insisted that the subsequent divergence in their paths was not a dramatic falling out, but rather a fundamental clash of philosophies regarding governance and public service.

According to El-Rufai, the current administration’s approach to governance is antithetical to his own values and upbringing. He accused the administration of prioritizing self-enrichment and cronyism over the public good, stating that their governing philosophies are parallel lines that will never meet.

He further suggested that even if he had accepted a ministerial position in the current government, he would have eventually departed due to these deep-seated disagreements. His focus, he asserted, remains on serving the public rather than personal enrichment or political maneuvering.

This latest revelation underscores the widening chasm within the political elite as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify. El-Rufai’s public clarification aims to reframe his political stance, moving away from his past alignment with Tinubu towards a focus on opposition politics within the ADC.