Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai says his political distance from President Bola Tinubu is rooted not in personal fallout, but in what he describes as irreconcilable differences in governance philosophy and public service priorities.
Speaking during a television interview, the former governor, now a chieftain of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress, rejected claims of a broken friendship with the President, insisting there was never a personal or political bond to begin with.
El-Rufai explained that his involvement in the All Progressives Congress campaign ahead of the 2023 presidential election followed party structures and internal understandings, not loyalty to any individual, noting that Tinubu was, at the time, simply one of several aspirants.
According to him, party leaders and stakeholders had agreed that after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, political power would rotate to the South, particularly the South-West, a principle he said informed his decision to back the APC’s eventual flag bearer.
Once Tinubu emerged as the party’s candidate, El-Rufai said he committed himself fully to the campaign, arguing that party discipline required him to work for victory regardless of personal preferences.
However, he maintained that differences became unavoidable after the election, as he assessed the governing style and policy direction of the Tinubu administration and found them fundamentally at odds with his own beliefs about leadership and accountability.
El-Rufai was especially critical of what he described as a departure from performance-driven governance, saying his understanding of public office emphasises service delivery, results, and ethical conduct rather than personal gain or patronage.
He added that even if a proposed ministerial appointment had materialised, it would likely have been short-lived, stressing that the divergence in values and governing approach made sustained collaboration impossible, a reality he says explains their parallel political paths.
