Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has clarified that he and President Bola Tinubu disagree on administration philosophy.
During an interview with Trust TV, El-Rufai reportedly stated that he and Tinubu never had a strong personal relationship, emphasizing that his early support for the President was motivated by principles rather than a personal connection.
Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister El-Rufai emphasized that the conflict with Tinubu was never personal.
He added that he would have quit the administration due to those basic philosophical disagreements even if he had agreed to Tinubu’s offer of cabinet position.
“I was never Tinubu’s friend,” he declared. I never had a personal relationship with General Buhari like that.
Some Islamic stakeholders from the southwest approached me to offer their support for the rise of a Muslim presidential contender from the region.
That’s how the conversations began. As the governor of Kaduna and one of the APC’s founders, I was aware that there was an agreement that the south would regain power after Buhari’s eight years in office. Tinubu was only an unintentional benefit; it wasn’t about him.
We didn’t disagree; we couldn’t find common ground. My purpose in government is to serve the people and accomplish goals, not to profit myself or install friends.
As a Muslim, a Northerner, and a Nigerian, the ideology of this regime runs counter to all I’ve been taught. They came to control the cake and make money. We are distinct individuals living on opposite sides of a line that will never cross.
El-Rufai added that Tinubu’s victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries served as the foundation for his pledge to maintain party unity.
“Whether I like the candidate or not, it is a principle of mine to fight for the candidate of my party in every election,” he emphasized.
“He became the party’s nominee, so I would do everything in my power to make sure he prevailed.”
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