Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has clarified that his support for President Bola Tinubu‘s candidacy in the 2023 presidential election was not driven by expectations of personal gain. This statement comes amidst ongoing tensions between El-Rufai and aides of the current administration, reflecting on his recent critical stance towards Tinubu’s government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
El-Rufai was a key figure among the Northern APC governors who, prior to the party’s primaries, advocated for a Southerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, aligning with a rotational presidency principle. This stance paved the way for Tinubu’s emergence as the APC’s candidate, who subsequently won the election against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
In recent times, El-Rufai has been vocal in his criticism of the Tinubu administration, leading to public exchanges on social media platform X with some of the president’s aides. Addressing these developments in a post on X, El-Rufai emphasized that his political actions were motivated by duty to God, country, and party, without any expectation of reward. He stated, “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.”
This statement underscores El-Rufai’s assertion of principled support for Tinubu’s candidacy, distancing himself from any narrative suggesting he sought personal benefits. It also highlights the ongoing friction between him and elements within the current administration, reflecting broader political dynamics within the APC and Nigerian politics at large.
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