Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has officially withdrawn his nomination for a ministerial position within President Bola Tinubu’s prospective cabinet according to an exclusive report by PremiumTimes.
According to the report, sources within the presidency revealed that El-Rufai personally conveyed this decision to President Tinubu during a meeting held on Tuesday.
El-Rufai indicated that while he will not be pursuing a ministerial role, he remains committed to playing a vital role in Nigeria’s advancement as a private citizen.
Join Our WhatsApp Channel for Exclusive Stories, News Reports, and Engaging Content. {Click Here}
According to an insider, El-Rufai also shared his intention to concentrate on his ongoing doctoral studies at a university in the Netherlands, underlining the significance of this academic pursuit in his life.
Additionally, during the meeting, El-Rufai recommended Jafaru Ibrahim Sani as a suitable alternative for the ministerial position from Kaduna State. Sani’s prior experience as a commissioner in various departments within Kaduna State was highlighted as a testament to his potential value to the President’s cabinet.
ALSO READ:Â Imams faults petitions from Shiites, Christians for El-Rufai’s non-confirmation as minister
The timing of El-Rufai’s decision aligns with his recent visit to the Presidential Villa, occurring shortly after the Senate’s confirmation of 45 out of 48 ministerial nominees following a comprehensive week-long screening process. However, his confirmation, along with two other nominees, was temporarily withheld by the Senate due to security-related concerns reported by the State Security Service.
Upon receiving information about the Senate’s decision regarding his case, El-Rufai expedited his return from London, where he had been prior to this development. He promptly requested and secured an audience with President Tinubu to address the matter.
During their discussion, President Tinubu indicated that he had received petitions critical of El-Rufai’s potential ministerial appointment and requested a 24-hour window to review these petitions and the accompanying SSS report. It was during this interval that El-Rufai expressed his decision to withdraw his candidacy for the ministerial position.
El-Rufai’s rationale for this decision reportedly stemmed from a perceived concerted effort by certain factions surrounding the President to obstruct his ascent to a federal ministerial role.Â
