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By Seyi Babalola
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has addressed the grounds behind his reported disagreements with President Bola Tinubu, emphasising that the issue was never personal.
El-Rufai told Trust TV that he and Tinubu have never had a close personal connection.
“I was never Tinubu’s friend. We never had a personal relationship like the one I had with General Buhari,” El-Rufai said.
He explained that his initial support for Tinubu was driven by principle rather than personal affinity.
“I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the southwest to support the emergence of a southwest Muslim presidential candidate.
“That is how the discussions started. As governor of Kaduna and one of the founders of APC, I knew there was an understanding that after 8 years of Buhari, power would return to the south. It wasn’t about Tinubu; he was merely an accidental beneficiary,” he stated.
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El-Rufai emphasized his commitment to party unity once Tinubu won the APC primaries.
“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,” he said.
The governor further explained that his differences with Tinubu were rooted 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.
“The philosophy of this government is contrary to everything I’ve been taught as a Muslim, a northerner, and a Nigerian. They came to govern the cake, to enrich themselves. We are different people parallel lines that will never meet,” El-Rufai said.
He further stated that if he had taken Tinubu’s publicly offered ministerial position, he would have quit the administration owing to fundamental philosophical disagreements.
