El-Rufai: People Allegedly Bought Ministerial Positions In Tinubu’s Government

El-Rufai Reveals Alleged Commercialization of Ministerial Positions Under Tinubu’s Administration

Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has disclosed that individuals allegedly paid to secure ministerial positions in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. El-Rufai made this claim during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, revealing his reasons for leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joining the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

El-Rufai’s Departure from APC

El-Rufai explained that his exit from APC was not abrupt. He sought permission and blessings from former President Muhammadu Buhari before officially leaving the party. According to him, every political decision he has made was after consulting with Buhari.

“The APC has lost its core values; it no longer adheres to its founding principles. The government has been commercialized, and money dictates decisions. Justice has been neglected, and those who worked hard for the party were abandoned instead of being rewarded. Ministerial positions were handed out to certain loyalists, particularly individuals from Lagos, sidelining key contributors,” El-Rufai stated.

Party Neglect and Political Marginalization

Addressing allegations that he left APC to avoid being expelled, El-Rufai clarified that he felt abandoned by the party. He stated that he was deliberately excluded from major party activities, leaving him with no option but to step aside.

“I didn’t leave the party; the party left me. I was marginalized and not included in party affairs. If I had been invited and refused, that would have been a different case. But I was completely ignored,” he asserted.

Ministerial Appointment Allegations

Responding to speculations that he left APC because he was denied a ministerial role, El-Rufai dismissed the claims, stating that he was never interested in the position. He alleged that some individuals even paid money to secure ministerial appointments in Tinubu’s government.

“I was at the ministerial screening because the President personally requested my participation. It was a public discussion; he asked me in Kaduna to join his administration to help resolve Nigeria’s electricity crisis. I took my time before considering his request. However, I later realized things were not aligning with what we initially discussed,” he explained.

El-Rufai’s revelations have sparked further debates on political appointments under the Tinubu-led government. His claims have raised concerns about transparency and meritocracy in Nigeria’s political landscape.

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