El-Rufai says he was never a friend of President Tinubu
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has stated emphatically that he was never personal friends with President Bola Tinubu, dismissing widespread assumptions that their past political alliance was rooted in a close personal bond. In an interview on Trust TV, El-Rufai said his support during the 2023 presidential election was political, based on party arrangements and principle, not personal friendship.
El-Rufai explained that public perception of a friendship with President Tinubu is “incorrect,” noting that he never had a personal relationship with the President in the same way he did with former President Muhammadu Buhari. He said he initially backed Tinubu during the APC primaries and general election because of broader political consultations and agreements within the party, and because there was an understanding among APC stakeholders that power should rotate to the South after President Buhari’s tenure.
He emphasised that his support was rooted in party loyalty and internal arrangements, not personal affinity for Tinubu. El-Rufai said that after Tinubu became the APC candidate, he committed to the party’s success in line with his principles, even though they never developed a personal rapport. The former governor also noted that their differences later became more pronounced due to divergent views on governance philosophy and the direction of the administration, rather than because of a personal falling-out.
Political analysts say El-Rufai’s clarification reflects deeper ideological divisions within Nigeria’s ruling party and may shape public perceptions ahead of future elections. His comments add context to ongoing debates about alliances, loyalty, and personal relationships in Nigerian politics, where assumptions about friendships between leaders often influence narratives about unity or discord within parties.
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