My Support for Tinubu Was Political, Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai says he was never friends with President Bola Tinubu, stressing that his support during the 2023 elections was purely political.
Speaking on Trust TV, El-Rufai explained:
“I was never Tinubu’s friend. We never had a personal relationship like the one I had with General Buhari.”
He said Islamic stakeholders from the southwest approached him to support a Muslim presidential candidate from the region. As one of APC’s founding members, he noted there was an understanding that power would return to the south after Buhari’s tenure.
“It wasn’t about Tinubu; he was merely an accidental beneficiary.”
El-Rufai added that once Tinubu became the APC candidate, he committed fully to ensuring the party’s victory:
“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.”
After the election, El-Rufai pointed out differences in 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.”