Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has stated he was by no means buddies with President Bola Tinubu, insisting that his assist for the President throughout the 2023 elections was purely political.
Talking in an interview with Belief TV on Monday, El-Rufai stated it was incorrect to imagine that he as soon as had a detailed private relationship with the president. He added that his assist over the past election was based mostly on celebration association.
“I used to be by no means Tinubu’s pal. We by no means had a private relationship just like the one I had with Basic Buhari,” El-Rufai stated.
“I used to be approached by sure Islamic stakeholders from the southwest to assist the emergence of a southwest Muslim presidential candidate.
“That’s how the discussions began. As governor of Kaduna and one of many founders of APC, I knew there was an understanding that after 8 years of Buhari, energy would return to the south. It wasn’t about Tinubu; he was merely an unintended beneficiary,” he said.
El-Rufai stated that after Tinubu grew to become the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, he absolutely dedicated himself to securing the celebration’s victory, in keeping with his ideas.
His phrases: “It’s a precept of mine to battle for the candidate of my celebration in each election, whether or not I just like the candidate or not.
“The truth that he emerged because the celebration’s candidate meant I might give every little thing to make sure he gained,” he stated.
The previous governor famous, nevertheless, that his variations with Tinubu grew to become obvious after the election, attributing them to divergent views on governance and public service.
“We didn’t fall out; we didn’t discover areas of settlement. I’m in authorities to serve the general public and ship outcomes, to not enrich myself or appoint cronies.
“The philosophy of this authorities is opposite to every little thing I’ve been taught as a Muslim, a northerner, and a Nigerian. They got here to manipulate the cake, to counterpoint themselves. We’re totally different individuals, parallel strains that can by no means meet,” El-Rufai stated.
El-Rufai additionally dismissed issues that opposition governors defecting to the ruling celebration might weaken resistance forward of the 2027 elections.
“Because the governor of Kaduna State… Tinubu misplaced. He didn’t win Kaduna. We misplaced three Senate seats,” he stated, citing his personal expertise to argue that incumbency doesn’t assure electoral outcomes. “The governor has just one vote.”
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