TINUBU SABOTAGED MY MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT – EL-RUFAI

February 25, 2025 NeeceeBossLady 0 Comments

Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate-past governor of Kaduna State, has clarified that his ministerial nomination by President Bola Tinubu in 2023 was not rejected by the Senate but was instead withdrawn by the President himself. Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday night, El-Rufai explained that President Tinubu simply “changed his mind” regarding the nomination.

“The National Assembly had nothing to do with it; the president didn’t want me in his cabinet,” El-Rufai stated.

El-Rufai also expressed concerns about the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the party’s organs have been inactive since Tinubu assumed office. “I’m a founding member of the APC, but I have a concern about how the party is being run. Many people sacrificed a lot to ensure it was an internally democratic party with progressive ideals. Two years after President Tinubu’s election, none of the party organs is functioning. The progressive ideals are not being pursued with any vigour,” he said.

The former governor revealed that after extensive negotiations, Tinubu personally sought his support and assured him of a ministerial nomination, which came with certain conditions. However, the President later withdrew the offer.

“Since I left office and the president publicly asked for my support, I agreed, and I didn’t ask for anything in return. I am a self-made man; I don’t need anything. After two months of negotiations, we finally agreed that he would nominate me as minister, with certain conditions attached. Along the way, the president changed his mind. Please don’t believe the story that the National Assembly rejected me—they had nothing to do with it. The president didn’t want me in his cabinet,” he added.

Addressing the alleged security concerns cited as a reason for his rejection, El-Rufai dismissed the claims, insisting there was no report against him.