Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has revealed that President Bola Tinubu, not the National Assembly, was responsible for his exclusion from the ministerial list.
Speaking in an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Monday, El-Rufai dismissed claims that his nomination was rejected due to security concerns.
“The National Assembly had nothing to do with it, the president didn’t want me in his cabinet,” he said.
A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), El-Rufai expressed concerns over the party’s leadership, stating that its structures have been dormant since Tinubu assumed office.
“I’m a founding member of the APC, but I have concerns about how the party is being run. Many of us sacrificed to build a party based on progressive ideals, but two years into Tinubu’s presidency, none of the party organs are functioning,” he said.
El-Rufai disclosed that Tinubu had personally appealed for his support and promised him a ministerial position under certain conditions. However, the president later rescinded the offer.
“Since I left office, the president publicly sought my support, and I agreed, stating that I wanted nothing in return. After two months of negotiations, he assured me of a ministerial nomination, but somewhere along the line, he changed his mind,” El-Rufai revealed.
Addressing reports that he was disqualified over security concerns, he challenged the claim, insisting that no such report existed.
“What was the security issue against me? Where is the report? There were less qualified, less experienced individuals who made it through because the president intervened. He is human, and he is entitled to change his mind,” he added.
