On June 23, 2025, former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai publicly rejected claims that he was politically close to President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Arise News Television’s PrimeTime show.
El-Rufai revealed a strained relationship with Tinubu and expressed deep regrets about supporting him in the 2023 presidential election.
Northern Governors’ Role in Tinubu’s Rise
El-Rufai disclosed that Northern APC governors agreed to zone power to the South after President Buhari’s two terms.
This decision paved the way for Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate.
Despite reservations about Tinubu, the governors believed his record.
Lagos State governor showed potential for national leadership.
He said, “For us, as Northern APC governors.
We felt that eight years after Buhari, power should go to the South.
The second question was who would win owing to the party.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu became a beneficiary of that”.
El-Rufai: A ‘Buharist,’ Not a Tinubu Ally
Contrary to popular belief, El-Rufai insisted he was never close to Tinubu.
“I was a Buhari Boy; he (Tinubu) had his boys. I was a Buharist.
My job was delivering Kaduna for Tinubu when he won the party,” he stated.
He added that while there were doubts about Tinubu’s candidacy.
The APC governors examined his governance in Lagos and concluded he was capable.
“Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future.
So we said if he can do half of that in Nigeria, then it’s good”.
Disaster Unfolded: El-Rufai’s Bitter Regret
El-Rufai admitted his high hopes for Tinubu’s administration were dashed.
He expected a competent cabinet but described the government as a “disaster” he was thankful to have avoided.
“I think God saved me from the embarrassment of having to be part of this disaster,” he said.
Tinubu publicly begged El-Rufai to join his cabinet.
But the former governor declined. “The videos are there.
How can they say he begged me to change my plans?
I thank God because I don’t have to explain to Nigerians why there’s no light, and the killings,” El-Rufai remarked.
Tinubu’s Cabinet Snub: Political Betrayal?
Nasir El-Rufai revealed that despite being nominated for a ministerial position.
The Senate rejected him, citing security concerns.
However, he claimed the real reason was Tinubu’s refusal to have him in the cabinet.
“Please don’t believe the story that the National Assembly rejected me.
The National Assembly has nothing to do with it.
The President did not want me in his cabinet,” he declared.
He alleged that after months of negotiations, Tinubu changed his mind about his appointment.
This public fallout has deepened the rift between the two political heavyweights.
Tinubu’s Camp Fires Back
The presidency responded sharply, accusing Nasir El-Rufai of “crying like a child” over his ministerial rejection and urging him to move on.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy,
Bayo Onanuga, dismissed El-Rufai’s complaints as predictable bitterness from exclusion.
President Tinubu himself described El-Rufai’s leadership as “toxic” one.
During a recent public event, highlighting the growing animosity between them.
From Ally to Critic: El-Rufai’s Political Shift
Once a staunch supporter of Tinubu and a founding member of the APC.
Nasir El-Rufai has transformed into one of the president’s most vocal critics.
He played a key role in Tinubu’s election campaign but now openly questions the administration’s competence and direction.
This could lead to further instability ahead of the 2027 elections.
Controversy and Political Fallout
El-Rufai’s revelations expose a bitter political drama behind the scenes of Nigeria’s ruling party.
His claims of betrayal and Tinubu’s public criticisms highlight a fractured APC struggling with internal discord.
The former governor’s refusal to join what he calls a “disastrous” government and his accusations against Tinubu add fuel to the fire of Nigeria’s political tensions.
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