We are parallel lines that will never meet – El-rufai on Tinubu

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has opened up on his well-publicized differences with President Bola Tinubu, insisting that their disagreements stem from governance philosophies, not personal animosity.

In an interview with Trust TV on Monday, El-Rufai dismissed claims that he and Tinubu had a close personal bond, noting, “I was never Tinubu’s friend. We never had a personal relationship like the one I had with General Buhari of blessed memory.”

He explained that his early support for Tinubu’s presidential bid was principled and political, rather than personal. “I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the South-West to support the emergence of a South-West Muslim presidential candidate… It wasn’t about Tinubu; he was merely an accidental beneficiary,” he said.

El-Rufai emphasized that his backing of Tinubu after clinching the APC ticket was a matter of party loyalty, stating, “It is a principle of mine to fight for the candidate of my party in every election, whether I like the candidate or not.”

However, the former governor revealed that his fallout with the Tinubu administration arose from clashes over governance philosophy. “We didn’t fall out; we just didn’t find areas of agreement. I am in government to serve the public and deliver results, not to enrich myself or appoint cronies,” he said.

He further disclosed that he rejected a ministerial position offered by Tinubu because their philosophies of governance were fundamentally incompatible. “If I had accepted the ministerial position, I would have resigned shortly after. Our fundamental philosophies of governance are worlds apart,” El-Rufai stated.

The former Kaduna governor’s revelations underscore the widening perception of ideological and governance differences within the ruling party, highlighting tensions that go beyond personal relationships to core principles of public service and accountability.

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