“El-Rufai: My Support for Tinubu Was Never for Personal Gain”
Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, has clarified that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 election campaign was not motivated by any personal expectations or the desire for favours in return.
As one of the key figures in the Northern governors’ bloc of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), El-Rufai was a vocal advocate for the election of a Southerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari before the party’s primaries. Eventually, Tinubu emerged as the APC’s candidate and went on to win the presidency, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
However, El-Rufai has recently been critical of the Tinubu administration and the APC, which has sparked ongoing exchanges between him and some of the President’s aides on social media.
In a post shared on X, El-Rufai addressed the growing tensions, emphasizing that his political actions were driven solely by a sense of duty to God, the country, and his party, with no expectation of any reward or personal gain. He framed the current developments as a natural part of political life.
“We did what we did for God, country, and party, expecting nothing in return,” El-Rufai tweeted. “What is unfolding is merely another life experience and part of human nature. We have moved on, but their conscience won’t let them sleep well. Thanks anyway.”
El-Rufai’s comments reflect his continued commitment to his principles while offering a perspective on the ongoing political dynamics between him and the current administration.
