Tinubu breaks silence on El-Rufai’s ministerial exclusion

President Bola Tinubu has reacted to claims made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that he was personally responsible for his exclusion from the ministerial list, rather than the National Assembly.

El-Rufai, speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Monday, dismissed reports that his nomination was rejected due to security concerns. Instead, he alleged that Tinubu deliberately chose not to include him in his cabinet.

“The National Assembly had nothing to do with it; the president didn’t want me in his cabinet,” El-Rufai stated.

In response, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, addressed the issue during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday. He advised El-Rufai to let go of his disappointment and move on.

Onanuga acknowledged the key role El-Rufai played during Tinubu’s presidential campaign but emphasized that the former governor should not continue lamenting his exclusion.

“I will pity former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. He feels hurt that he was not made a minister, but I think it’s time for him to move on,” Onanuga said.

“You cannot continue to behave like a child as if someone stole his bread and then cry over spilled milk. The president has already acknowledged his contributions, and if he is not in the cabinet, it does not mean he should bring down the roof.”

Onanuga further reminded El-Rufai that with decades of public service experience dating back to 1999, he should focus on the future rather than dwelling on past grievances.

El-Rufai’s exclusion from Tinubu’s cabinet has been a subject of intense political debate, with speculation about political rifts between the two prominent figures.