According to a report, Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has reportedly recommended a replacement to serve as a minister in the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Despite being a strong supporter of Tinubu’s presidential aspirations, El-Rufai, along with two other ministerial nominees – Stella Okotete from Delta State and Sani A Danladi from Taraba State, was not confirmed by the Senate due to security clearance issues.
Sources within the Presidency, as reported by Premium Times on Friday, have stated that El-Rufai informed President Tinubu that he will no longer consider his nomination for a ministerial position. Allegedly, El-Rufai conveyed his intention to focus on his doctorate program at a university in The Netherlands and promised to contribute to national development as a private citizen.
In lieu of his nomination, El-Rufai reportedly suggested Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, who previously served as a commissioner in three ministries in Kaduna State, as his replacement to President Tinubu. El-Rufai assured Tinubu that Sani would be a valuable addition to the government.
During his Senate screening on Monday, El-Rufai disclosed that Tinubu had specifically tasked him with working on the country’s power problem. However, given the Senate’s decision, El-Rufai’s role in the government seems unlikely.
The Senate confirmed the appointments of 45 other ministerial nominees, including Festus Keyamo, the former minister of state for labor and employment, whose nomination initially faced opposition during his screening. Notable among the confirmed nominees are Ekperikpe Ekpo, Heineken Lolokpobri, Betta Edu, John Owan Enoh, Nyesom Wike, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo.
It remains to be seen whether El-Rufai’s recommendation for a replacement will be accepted by President Tinubu. The political landscape continues to evolve as various nominations and appointments are reviewed and confirmed by Nigeria’s Senate.
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