By Muhammad Mamman
Abuja, Nigeria — Former Kaduna State governor and prominent political figure Nasir El-Rufai has publicly clarified his relationship with President Bola Tinubu, stating unequivocally that he was never friends with the Nigerian leader and that his support during the 2023 presidential election was driven by party politics rather than personal loyalty.
Speaking in an interview on Trust TV on Monday, El-Rufai dismissed widespread assumptions that he and Tinubu shared a close personal bond. “I was never Tinubu’s friend,” he said, emphasising that their interaction was framed by political alignments at the time and not by personal affinity. 
The former governor explained that his backing for Tinubu’s presidential bid emerged from internal consultations within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and broader strategic considerations about party zoning arrangements — particularly the understanding that power should rotate to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure. 
El-Rufai also underscored that his loyalty to Tinubu during the election was rooted in his commitment to party unity once Tinubu secured the APC’s nomination. “It is a principle of mine to fight for the candidate of my party in every election, whether I like the candidate or not,” he said. 
However, El-Rufai was clear that his current differences with the Tinubu administration are philosophical rather than personal. He criticised what he described as diverging governance philosophies, suggesting that the government’s approach does not align with his own views on public service and accountability. 
Political analysts say El-Rufai’s statement could reflect deeper ideological fractures within Nigeria’s ruling elite, particularly as the country begins to gear up for the 2027 general elections. Observers note that his remarks may influence political alignments and public perception of governance debates ahead of future contests.
