El-Rufai bows to pressure, withdraws interest as a Minister

Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State has reportedly bowed to pressure to withdraw his nomination as a minister in the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to reports.

This Online news further learnt that the former Kaduna governor has also recommended a replacement to President Tinubu.

El-Rufai, a staunch supporter of Tinubu’s presidential ambition before the election, and two other ministerial nominees – Stella Okotete from Delta State and Sani A Danladi from Taraba State were not confirmed by the Senate on Monday due to security clearance.

A Premium Times report on Friday quoting sources within the Presidency said El-Rufai has informed President Tinubu that he will no longer consider his nomination as a minister in the government.

El-Rufai reportedly assured Tinubu that he will continue to contribute his quota to national development as a private citizen.

The report said El-Rufai has recommended Jafaru Ibrahim Sani who served as commissioner in three ministries – Local Government Education and Environment in Kaduna State – as his replacement to President Tinubu.

El-Rufai, according to the report, told Tinubu that he ‘needed time to focus on his doctorate programme at a university in The Netherlands’ and assured the president that he would find Sani ‘very useful and resourceful’ in the government.

President asked El-Rufai for time to review the petitions and the SSS report to the Senate to enable him to reach a decision.

Spokesman to El-Rufai, Muyiwa Adekeye, is yet to speak on the matter.

The former Kaduna State governor during his screening at the Senate on Monday disclosed that Tinubu specifically asked him to work with the government on the power problem facing the country.

The Senate confirmed all 45 other ministerial nominees including former minister of state for labour and employment Festus Keyamo whose nomination was most recent and faced stiff opposition with the lawmakers during his screening.

Those confirmed include Ekperikpe Ekpo (Akwa Ibom), Heineken Lolokpobri (Bayelsa), Betta Edu (Cross River), John Owan Enoh (Cross River), Festus Keyamo (Delta), Abubakar Momoh (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Tahir Mamman (Adamawa), Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (Adamawa), Ali Pate (Bauchi), Abubakar Kyari (Borno), Alkali Ahmed Saidu (Gombe), Uba Maigari Ahmadu (Taraba), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Mohamed Badaru (Jigawa), Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure (Kano) and Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo (Kano).

Others confirmed are Ahmad Dangiwa (Katsina), Hannatu Musawa (Katsina), Yusuf Tanko Sununu (Kebbi), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Bello M Goronyo (Sokoto), Bello Matawwalle (Zamfara), Nkiru Onyejiocha (Abia), Uju Ohaneye (Anambra), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Uche Nnaji (Enugu), Doris Uzoka (Imo), Dele Alake (Ekiti), Tunji Alausa and Lola Ade John from Lagos State.

Amongst ministerial nominees confirmed also is Ishak Salako, Bosun Tijani and Olawale Edun from Ogun State, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Ondo), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), Adebayo Adelabu (Oyo), Joseph Utsev (Benue), Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo (FCT), Shaibu Abubakar Audu (Kogi), Lateef Fagbemi (Kwara), Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim (Nasarawa), Mohammed Idris and Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi from Niger State and Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau).