Tinubu never liked me, says El-Rufai

Tinubu never liked me, says El-Rufai

Former governor of Kaduna State Nasir el-Rufai has spoken on his strained relationship with President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking in an interview on Arise News on Monday, June 23, 2025, the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory revealed that he and Tinubu never enjoyed a close relationship, despite being in the same political party.

He attributed the distance to his loyalty to former President Muhammadu Buhari, with whom he had a stronger bond.

“I was never close to Tinubu. In the party, I was a ‘Buhari boy’. Tinubu had his boys.

“The person I connected with was Baba Bisi Akande. I served as his deputy national secretary.

“So Tinubu never liked me. But when he won the ticket, I set my personal feelings aside and worked hard to deliver Kaduna for him. That was my duty as a party man”, El-Rufai said.

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The former All Progressives Congress chieftain described the Tinubu-led administration as a “tragedy”.

The former governor admitted that he shared in the blame for bringing this “tragedy” upon Nigeria and Nigerians.

He stated that his support for the president during the 2023 elections was based on faith in Tinubu’s past achievements in Lagos—but that faith has since been betrayed.

“I supported him because I believed in his Lagos legacy. He was inclusive. He brought in professionals like Yemi Osinbajo and Wale Edun from the private sector. He appointed Igbos and Hausas in key roles, and he got things done. But now… this?

“I feel like I owe Nigeria a duty to correct this mistake. I am 65 now, approaching retirement, but I cannot rest knowing that I helped bring in a government that is hurting Nigerians.

“I will do all I can, with others, to reverse this trajectory. If we leave this unchecked, Nigeria will be destroyed,” El-Rufai stated.

Tinubu never liked me, says El-Rufai