El-Rufai Confronts Tinubu Over Ministerial Snub, Blames Ribadu for Security Concerns

Ilesanmi AdekanbiAugust 11, 2023

1 3 minutes read

The former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, expressed his displeasure with President Bola Tinubu over his delayed ministerial appointment during a heated meeting at the State House this week, Peoples Gazette has learnt from multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Mr El-Rufai accused Mr Tinubu of being insincere about any misgivings the president might have had against his nomination, saying it showed a hidden hostility.

He said Mr Tinubu could not pretend to be unaware of the petitions that were filed against him from various quarters, challenging his suitability for a seat on the federal executive council.

The president had told Mr El-Rufai that he was still awaiting a security report from the national security advisers before making a final decision on his nomination. But Mr El-Rufai quickly interrupted him and informed him that he had already withdrawn his interest in becoming a minister, our sources said.

Mr El-Rufai’s blunt remarks before the president shocked many people at the Presidential Villa, The Gazette heard, with some fearing the political consequences.

“We know of his high level of competence,” an Aso Rock aide said of Mr El-Rufai, “and the president would rather have him as an ally rather than even a cursory enemy.”

The main obstacle to Mr El-Rufai’s ministerial confirmation was the national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu, who amplified the severity of a series of complaints against Mr El-Rufai’s eligibility for a cabinet position to block his security clearance, our sources said.

Mr El-Rufai met with the president shortly after The Gazette broke the news on Wednesday that he had decided to step aside from Mr Tinubu’s cabinet because his nomination was withheld amid a cloud of security concerns.

He blamed the president for allowing Mr Ribadu and other overzealous security aides to withhold his security clearance and consequently allow rumours to spread about his status.

Mr El-Rufai was one of only three ministerial nominees that were withheld when the list of 48 nominees was considered last week. The two others, Abubakar Danladi of Taraba and Stella Okotete of Delta, have not attracted much attention because they are not as controversial as Mr El-Rufai.

The senators, however, cleared 45 candidates, including Nyesom Wike and Abubakar Bagudu, both of whom are widely regarded as some of the most violent and corrupt politicians in the country.

Mr Ribadu and other aides reportedly urged the president to pay attention to the plethora of damaging petitions submitted against Mr El-Rufai from different parts of the country, which ranged from allegations of instigating ethnic clashes in Kaduna to diverting public funds.

Before finally opting out as a potential minister, Mr El-Rufai rejected appeals from allies to make peace with Mr Ribadu to enable the national security adviser to reconsider his opposition against his nomination. Mr Ribadu did not return a request seeking comments.

Mr El-Rufai has not publicly commented on either his withdrawal from ministerial consideration or the specific allegations against him in public petitions, but he has previously denied allegations of violence or corruption in general. He had initially planned to play along until his confirmation before publicly announcing his intention to quit before his inauguration, but that strategy became difficult to follow through after The Gazette reported on it.

Despite his decision to turn down Mr Tinubu’s appointment, Mr El-Rufai, who was being considered for power minister, told the president he would not hesitate to offer support should it be required by the administration. Consequently, he mentioned Jafaru Sani, one of his former commissioners in Kaduna, as his replacement, our sources said.

The governor also said he had informed Governor Uba Sani of his intention to nominate a potential minister from Kaduna, and both had agreed on the choice. Mr Sani did not immediately return a request seeking comments.

Mr El-Rufai backed Mr Tinubu for president earlier this year, an endorsement largely seen as crucial to the campaign’s success in the electorally-lucrative northwestern region, and the fear of losing that support has gripped presidential aides. A presidential spokesman did not immediately return a request seeking comment.

Mr El-Rufai departed Abuja for Egypt on Thursday night, The Gazette was told, although it was unclear when he would be back in the country or how his future plans would unfold.