Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai made startling allegations about the ministerial appointment process in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, el-Rufai shared his concerns and claimed that individuals paid money to secure ministerial positions.
He contrasted this with his own experience, explaining how the president personally invited him to serve in his administration.
El-Rufai’s statements raised eyebrows, prompting discussions about the integrity of the appointment process and its implications for governance.
El-Rufai disclosed that President Tinubu had approached him with a specific request to address Nigeria’s longstanding electricity challenges.
According to the former governor, Tinubu expressed an urgent desire to resolve the issue, which has plagued successive administrations, and sought el-Rufai’s expertise in tackling it.
“Mr. President begged me, and even the whole world knows he begged me in Kaduna,” el-Rufai said during the interview.
“He told me he wants to be the president that finally solves the electricity problem.”
The former governor clarified that he did not lobby for a ministerial position, let alone pay for it. “I know some that paid money before they put their names as ministers,” he alleged.
Although Tinubu listed el-Rufai as a ministerial nominee in July 2023, the Senate blocked his confirmation, citing security concerns alongside Stella Okotete and Danladi Abubakar.
When questioned, el-Rufai denied linking his APC exit to this exclusion, clarifying he left over governance issues, not resentment. He joined the SDP on Monday.
While affirming no regret for backing Tinubu’s 2023 campaign, he criticized the administration’s direction, amplifying discontent through recent APC critiques.
Allegations of financial inducements for appointments, combined with el-Rufai’s departure, deepen intrigue in Nigeria’s evolving political dynamics.
These claims are likely to spark further scrutiny of the processes surrounding cabinet appointments under Tinubu’s leadership.
As of now, neither President Tinubu nor his administration has responded to el-Rufai’s assertions.