“I Was Never Close To Tinubu – God Saved Me From The Disaster Of His Government” – El-Rufai Speaks Out
Published Tuesday, June 24, 2025
In a revealing and explosive interview, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has distanced himself from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring that he was never politically aligned with the current administration and is grateful to God for not being part of it.
Speaking on Arise News PrimeTime, El-Rufai shed light on what he described as false assumptions about his relationship with Tinubu, his regret for supporting him in 2023, and his relief at not joining the current government, which he bluntly called a “disaster.”
🧊 “I Was Never Close to Tinubu”
El-Rufai made it clear that he had always been loyal to former President Muhammadu Buhari, not Tinubu.
“I was never close to Bola Tinubu. I was a Buhari boy. He had his boys,” he said.
He explained that the Northern APC governors, including himself, made a strategic decision to zone the presidency to the South after Buhari’s tenure, and Tinubu emerged as the default beneficiary.
“Despite some questions about his candidacy, we looked at his time as Lagos governor. It was decent. If he could do half of that nationally, we felt Nigeria would be okay.”
🤝 “Tinubu Publicly Begged Me to Join His Cabinet”
Contrary to the belief that El-Rufai was sidelined, he revealed that Tinubu personally appealed to him—even in public—to take a position in his cabinet.
“Tinubu begged me publicly to serve in his government. The videos are there,” El-Rufai stated.
“But I said no. I had other plans, and frankly, I thank God I wasn’t dragged into this mess.”
🚫 “This Government is a Disaster”
El-Rufai didn’t mince words about his disappointment in the current administration’s performance, especially when it comes to power supply and insecurity.
“I had high hopes that Tinubu would appoint a sound, capable cabinet. But look at what we have—no quality, no light, and the killings continue.”
“God saved me from the embarrassment of having to explain this failure to Nigerians.”
🔚 A Painful Lesson for the APC?
El-Rufai’s revelations come at a time when confidence in Tinubu’s leadership is wavering among citizens and even within the APC itself. Once seen as a possible insider, El-Rufai’s bold statements now position him as a vocal outsider—perhaps laying the groundwork for his own political reinvention.
His parting shot?
“I’m too big to have a godfather.”
Conclusion:
Nasir El-Rufai’s frank disavowal of Tinubu and his government is not just a personal statement—it’s a political earthquake. As the 2027 race begins to take shape, one thing is certain: El-Rufai is not sitting quietly on the sidelines.
