Former Kaduna Governor, El-Rufai Withdraws Ministerial Nomination

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has officially announced his decision to withdraw his interest in being considered for a ministerial position within President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

The announcement was made during a meeting held on August 8, 2023, between El-Rufai and President Tinubu.

El-Rufai affirmed his commitment to contributing to Nigeria’s development as a private citizen and asserted his ongoing doctorate program in The Netherlands as a key reason for his withdrawal from the ministerial nomination.

The former governor also used the occasion to propose Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, a former commissioner in various ministries under his governorship, as a competent replacement for the Kaduna State ministerial slot.

This decision to withdraw followed hurdles in El-Rufai’s ministerial confirmation, with the Senate withholding his confirmation, alongside two other nominees, based on security reports from the Department of State Service (DSS).

It was gathered that during the meeting, President Tinubu informed El-Rufai of received petitions critical of his ministerial nomination and requested 24 hours to review these petitions, as well as the DSS report submitted to the Senate, before making a final decision.

El-Rufai, however, expressed concerns about potential hindrances being coordinated by certain individuals around the president, leading him to resolutely declare his withdrawal from the ministerial nomination.