Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has opened up on the reasons behind his rift with President Bola Tinubu, insisting that their differences were based on principles of governance rather than personal animosity.

Speaking in an interview with Trust TV on Monday, El-Rufai clarified that contrary to public belief, he and Tinubu never shared a close personal bond.

“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 initial support for Tinubu’s presidential bid was not out of friendship but driven by a sense of political and regional balance.

“I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the South-West to support the emergence of a South-West Muslim presidential candidate,” he said.

“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 added that once Tinubu clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket, he threw his weight behind him out of party loyalty.

“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 stated.

However, El-Rufai revealed that his fallout with the Tinubu administration stemmed from what he described as a clash of governance philosophies.

“We didn’t fall out; we just 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.

“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.”

He further disclosed that his decision to reject a ministerial appointment from President Tinubu was based on those same principles.

“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,” El-Rufai declared.