Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has clarified that he was not rejected by the National Assembly as a ministerial nominee but was instead dropped by President Bola Tinubu.
In August 2023, the Senate withheld El-Rufai’s confirmation, citing security reports from the State Security Service (SSS). However, speaking in an interview with Arise TV on Monday, El-Rufai dismissed the notion that the legislature was responsible for his exclusion from the ministerial list.
He explained that after completing his tenure as governor, he had personal plans but was persuaded by President Tinubu to join his cabinet. Despite initial agreements, he noted that the president ultimately decided against his nomination.
“After serving for eight years as governor of Kaduna State, I had my plans. The President publicly appealed to me to put my plans on hold, and after some time, we finally agreed that he would nominate me as a minister. There were certain conditions I attached to that,” El-Rufai said.
“I think along the line, either the President changed his mind or something else happened. Please, don’t believe the story that the National Assembly rejected me. The President didn’t want me in his cabinet; he changed his mind. Whatever it is, frankly, I don’t care.”
His remarks shed new light on the circumstances surrounding his failed ministerial bid, shifting attention to the presidency’s decision rather than the Senate’s role.
