In a revealing and candid interview, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has set the record straight on his failed ministerial appointment, saying it was President Bola Tinubu — not the National Assembly — who blocked his nomination.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Monday, El-Rufai dismissed widespread reports that his rejection stemmed from alleged “security concerns” raised by the National Assembly. Instead, he pointed directly at the president’s change of heart.
“Please don’t believe the story that the National Assembly rejected me,” El-Rufai said. “The National Assembly had nothing to do with this. The president didn’t want me in his cabinet. He changed his mind. Whatever the reason, I don’t care — I’ve moved on.”
Reflecting on his relationship with the president, El-Rufai shared how Tinubu had publicly appealed to him to serve after his tenure in Kaduna. Despite his plans for a well-earned break, El-Rufai said he eventually agreed to the role after two months of negotiations.
“I told President Tinubu from day one when he asked me to support him that I would but I didn’t want anything in return,” El-Rufai explained. “I’m not in politics for personal gain. I have a surname, and I’m a self-made man. I made my money before coming into public office. After eight years of governing Kaduna, I was nearly burnt out and needed a break.”
Despite those intentions, El-Rufai said he accepted the nomination after Tinubu’s persistent requests only for things to take an unexpected turn.
“I attached certain conditions to my acceptance,” he added. “But somewhere along the line, either the president changed his mind or something else happened.”
“What was the security issue?” he asked pointedly. “I governed one of the most difficult states in the country for eight years. Where is the report? What about other ministers who are far less qualified and have huge controversies around them? They scaled through because the president made a call.”
El-Rufai’s remarks raise significant questions about the inner workings of Tinubu’s administration and the power dynamics influencing key appointments. They also reflect the growing discontent within the All Progressives Congress (APC), with El-Rufai openly questioning why the party isn’t functioning effectively.
As the fallout from this revelation continues, one thing is clear: the political drama within the APC is far from over. How this affects the party’s cohesion and Tinubu’s leadership remains to be seen but the cracks are beginning to widen.
