Former Kaduna State Governor and ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed claims of a personal fallout with President Bola Tinubu, stating that he never had a personal relationship with the president.

El-Rufai made the clarification during an interview on Trust TV on Monday, where he said his support for Tinubu’s 2023 presidential ambition was based on party loyalty and political calculations, not friendship.

“I was never Tinubu’s friend. We never had a personal relationship like the one I had with General Buhari of blessed memory,” he said.

The former governor explained that his involvement in Tinubu’s emergence as president followed consultations within the All Progressives Congress and broader political considerations ahead of the election.

According to El-Rufai, Islamic stakeholders from the South-West initially approached him to support the emergence of a Muslim presidential candidate from the region, which shaped his early engagement in the process.

“I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the southwest to support the emergence of a southwest Muslim presidential candidate. That is how the discussions started,” he stated.

He added that the zoning arrangement within the APC after the completion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure made the emergence of a southern president inevitable.

“As governor of Kaduna and one of the founders of APC, I knew there was an understanding that after eight years of Buhari, power would return to the south. It wasn’t about Tinubu; he was merely an accidental beneficiary,” El-Rufai said.

El-Rufai noted that once Tinubu emerged as the party’s candidate, he fully committed himself to the campaign in line with his personal principles.

“It is a principle of mine to fight for the candidate of my party in every election, whether I like the candidate or not. The fact that he emerged as the party’s candidate meant I would give everything to ensure he won,” he said.

However, he disclosed that disagreements surfaced after the election due to differing philosophies of governance and public service.

“We didn’t fall out; we 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 criticised the governing approach of the current administration, saying it sharply contrasts with his own values.

“The philosophy of this government is contrary to everything I’ve been taught as a Muslim, a northerner, and a Nigerian. They came to govern the cake, to enrich themselves. We are different people, parallel lines that will never meet,” El-Rufai said.

El-Rufai also revealed that his decision to reject a ministerial appointment offered by President Tinubu was influenced by these fundamental differences.

“If I had accepted the ministerial position that was publicly offered to me, I would have resigned shortly after. Our fundamental philosophies of governance are worlds apart,” he added.