"The President Didn't Want Me" - El-Rufai Exposes Tinubu Over Ministerial Rejection

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has revealed shocking details about his exclusion from President Bola Tinubu's cabinet, stating that it was Tinubu himself, not the National Assembly, who blocked his ministerial nomination.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Arise TV's Prime Time on Tuesday, El-Rufai dismissed claims that the Senate rejected him over security concerns, insisting that the real decision came from the presidency.

El-Rufai, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a key player in the party's rise to power, accused Tinubu of betraying their agreement, despite extensive negotiations leading up to his nomination.

"The National Assembly had nothing to do with it. The president didn't want me in his cabinet," El-Rufai declared.

According to the former Kaduna governor, Tinubu personally asked for his support during the 2023 presidential election and even promised him a ministerial position in return. However, after months of negotiations, the president allegedly changed his mind.

"Since I left office, the president begged me publicly to support him. I agreed and said I wanted nothing in return. But after two months of negotiations, we finally agreed that he would nominate me as minister, under certain conditions," El-Rufai revealed.

"Along the line, either the president changed his mind, or something else happened. But please don't believe the story that the National Assembly rejected me. They had nothing to do with it. The president didn't want me in his cabinet."

El-Rufai also dismissed claims that he was dropped due to security concerns, questioning why the alleged security report against him has never been made public.

"What was the security issue the National Assembly had against me? Where is the report?" he asked.

He further criticized the selective process of ministerial approvals, suggesting that less experienced and less qualified candidates were cleared because Tinubu personally intervened.

"There were far less qualified and less experienced people who scaled through because the president made a call. He is a human being, he's entitled to change his mind."

Beyond his personal ordeal, El-Rufai took a swipe at the APC leadership, accusing the ruling party of losing its progressive values since Tinubu assumed office.

"I am a founding member of the APC, but I have serious concerns about how the party is being run. Two years after Tinubu's election, none of the party's organs are functioning. The progressive ideals we fought for are not being pursued with any vigour," he lamented.

El-Rufai's explosive revelations have sparked debate within political circles, with many questioning the rift between him and Tinubu.

While some analysts believe El-Rufai may be setting the stage for a future political move, others argue that he is voicing frustrations over being sidelined.

As the APC struggles with internal divisions, El-Rufai's statements have further fueled speculations about cracks within the ruling party.

Will he remain in APC or chart a new political path? Only time will tell.