Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai declared on Monday that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 election bid was never motivated by any desire for personal gain or favour.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!El-Rufai, who played an influential role among the Northern governors within the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), had been a vocal advocate before the party’s primary, insisting that a Southerner should succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. Despite these early reservations, Tinubu secured the party’s nomination and ultimately won the election against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
In recent times, however, tensions have emerged. El-Rufai, now openly critical of the Tinubu administration and its inner circle, has exchanged sharp words on X (formerly Twitter) with aides close to the President. One user, tweeting as @realYusufTukur, claimed that Tinubu and his allies had fervently sought El-Rufai’s endorsement before the election—singing his praises—only to later accuse him of failing to support the President.
Responding to the criticism, El-Rufai stated that his actions were driven solely by his commitment to God, country, and party, with no expectation of personal reward. “We did what we did for God, country, and party, expecting nothing in return. 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,” he wrote.
El-Rufai’s remarks reaffirm his belief in acting on principle, underscoring that his support for Tinubu was unconditional and free from ulterior motives.
