Arise TV Programme: Attention Returns To ‘Ministerial Appointment’ Controversy As El-Rufai Speaks On ‘Political Future’, Strained Relationship With Ribadu, Other Issues

Former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-rufai grabbed the headlines on Monday, February 24, 2025, and he may continue to get a great deal of public attention for the next few days.

He had begun by taunting some political office holders in the message he posted on X.com to thank friends and family members who sent birthday wishes last week.

El-Rufai, who was born on February 16, 1960, turned 65 on February 16, 2025

The former minister, a one-time governor of Kaduna State, who appeared on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Monday night, touched on issues that are somewhat ‘explosive’ and his comments will definitely give birth to reactions in the coming days.

His comments have actually become ‘topical issues’ on social media and people are already discussing and making their thoughts known on them.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that attention has also returned to a particular topic; El-Rufai’s failure to win confirmation from the Senate after getting nominated as minister by President Bola Tinubu in July 2023.

Recall that El-rufai was among the 48 individuals nominated as ministers by President Bola Tinubu and though confirmation hearings were held for them, the senate however refused to confirm the former Kaduna State governor and two others; Stella Okotete (Delta State) and Danladi Umar (Taraba State) in August 2023.

Commenting on the issue on Monday, he submitted that it was President Bola Tinubu who actually had a decision-switch in respect of his nomination and the Senate consequently did what he wanted.

‘Since I left office and the President begged me publicly to come and serve in his government, I had my plans and told President Tinubu from day one when he asked me to support him, I said I  would, but I don’t want anything because politics in Nigeria is always about what do I get for giving you support.

I’m not in politics for that reason. I’m not in politics to get anything. I have a surname, and I’m a self-made man. I’ve made money before coming into public office. I don’t need anything. After eight years in Kaduna, I was nearly burnt out. I was struggling for eight years and I wanted to take a break, and I had my private plans.

The President publicly appealed to me to put my plans on hold, and through two months of negotiations, we finally agreed that he would nominate me as minister and there were certain conditions I attached to that.

I think along the line, either the President changed his mind or something else. Please don’t believe the story that the National Assembly rejected me. The National Assembly had nothing to do with this. The President didn’t want me in his cabinet. He changed his mind. Whatever it is, I don’t care, and I’ve moved on.

Since I’ve moved on, I’ve not said a word, I’ve not granted an interview, I’ve not commented on the government, but it is within my right as a founding member of the All Progressives Congress to ask why the party isn’t functioning’ he said

El-Rufai, who has alleged lopsidedness in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet picks, also alleged that those who have been appointed to positions are mainly his ‘boys’.

‘The president’s appointments are not being made because the appointees are Yoruba, but because they are his own boys. Most of the appointments do not even reasonably cover the Southwest.

So, people should stop confusing the truth. The appointments are not balanced. Yes, definitely, definitely, right? You cannot argue that, but it’s not a Yoruba thing. Please don’t punish the Yoruba people as you have been punishing northerners for the sins of the military.

 Let’s focus on individuals and hold them accountable. President Tinubu needs to do something about that. It’s still not too late. He can correct it, but there is palpable anger in the north’ he said.

The former governor also submitted that the president has failed to meet expectations of Nigerians in respect of managing the affairs of the ruling party.

‘Two years after the election of President Tinubu, none of the party organs are functioning, the progressive ideals are not being pursued with vigour and the very high expectations we had of the president to take this country to the highest level based on his track record in Lagos is somehow not materializing’ he said.

He has also talked about his strained relationship with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, accusing his estranged friend of doing all he can to taint his image.

The retired police officer, he added, is doing this in collusion with his successor, Governor Sani Uba of Kaduna State.

‘This project of destroying Nasir el-Rufai is Nuhu Ribadu’s conception. He is the architect and builder of that project. He is the one working with Uba Sani to implement it. So far, it has been frustrating for them.

Somebody wants to destroy my reputation. Why? Nuhu Ribadu wants to be president in 2031. He has to eliminate every northerner that he thinks is on the radar’ he said.

Although El-Rufai, who has become somewhat of a political enigma, did not rule out the possibility of leaving the APC he however asserted that PDP can never be under consideration.

‘It should be clear that the fact that I’m in the APC doesn’t mean that I cannot visit a friend of mine who is in the PDP or SDP. So anytime I visit anyone that is not in APC, they say, ‘Oh, he’s thinking of leaving the party.’

In fact, about two months ago, one character in Kaduna posted on his Facebook page that I’ve collected a PDP membership card in my ward. It was totally untrue.

When I visited my brother and friend, Shehu Gabam at the SDP headquarters, they said, ‘Oh, he has joined the SDP.’ Again, it is not true.

 I don’t know where I will end up if the APC doesn’t come back to where we started. But one thing I can tell you for sure is that PDP is not a party that I will go to, ever. I have thought about that. I’ve decided that long ago, and nothing has changed. In fact, if anything, PDP has gotten worse; rule out PDP

But PDP, no. Other parties, possibly, if the APC doesn’t sort itself out.

I met with PDP leadership in Kaduna a couple of days ago. The state leadership of the party came to see me, and I met with them. You know, I’m a public figure in my state, and at my age, and based on the responsibilities I have held, I am a leader of some sort.

If people say they want to see me, I’m not going to say, ‘You are PDP, I won’t see you,’ or ‘You are SDP’, I will only meet with APC people.’ It is my duty to meet with everyone. It is my duty to guide and mentor young people across partisan divides. So, I meet with people but the moment I meet with anyone, everything is reduced to politics’ he said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you