Updated: El-Rufai speaks on ministerial snub, says Tinubu had his reasons

Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has finally broken his silence on President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove his name from the ministerial nomination list, stating that Tinubu must have had his reasons.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Monday, February 24, El-Rufai, who has had a strained relationship with the current administration, addressed the circumstances surrounding his exclusion from Tinubu’s cabinet.

When asked how he felt about being dropped, he responded, “Tinubu changed his mind for reasons best known to him. I don’t care because I never begged for the position.”

El-Rufai further claimed that it was Tinubu who persistently urged him to join his administration, specifically to work on Nigeria’s power sector. According to him, it took about two months before he finally agreed to support Tinubu’s government.

On his status in the All Progressives Congress (APC), El-Rufai confirmed that he remains a member of the ruling party but admitted that he no longer recognizes its direction. He lamented the lack of internal meetings and consultations, stating, “I’m still in the APC, but the party seems to have left me.”

While denying rumors of his political retirement, he hinted at the possibility of seeking another platform if things do not improve within the APC. However, he declined to reveal any specific plans for his political future.