New facts have surfaced regarding the collapse of the agreement between President Bola Tinubu and former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, concerning El-Rufai’s appointment as a minister in the yet-to-be-formed Federal Executive Council.
According to an investigation, it was revealed that El-Rufai had initially been assured of heading the proposed Ministry of Power and Gas due to his extensive discussions with the President regarding achieving consistent power supply in the nation within a few years.
Reportedly, during the presidential campaign, El-Rufai had expressed a desire to lead a quiet life abroad. However, he reversed this decision after engaging in what was described as “intensive discussions with the President following the election victory.”
Sources indicated that El-Rufai proposed the inclusion of gas within the Ministry of Power, emphasizing its significance for achieving a stable power supply.
Allegedly, El-Rufai began assembling a group of experts to advise the President on realizing his major campaign promise of uninterrupted power supply. Members of this group included Jimi Lawal, Special Adviser to the President on Energy Matters; Olu Verheijen; Eyo Ekpo; and Tolu Oyekan, among others.
This group believed that multiple factors contributed to the President’s hesitation in confirming El-Rufai’s appointment. It was suggested that certain individuals within the presidential quarters might have felt threatened by El-Rufai’s influence and potential. These elements allegedly included political rivals like Senator Shehu Sani, some factions of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and even certain Muslim clerics.
The rift between the President and El-Rufai emerged from the latter’s stance during the All Progressives Congress presidential primary crisis, where his alignment with the President’s position helped override security concerns.
Moreover, influential figures within Tinubu’s inner circle expressed reservations about granting El-Rufai significant power within the government, citing trust issues. This sentiment contributed to the submission of a second security report detailing reasons for El-Rufai’s non-clearance for a ministerial position.
The Department of State Services (DSS) recommended that El-Rufai’s Senate clearance be postponed due to ongoing investigations into certain issues negatively impacting his eligibility. Although the specific details contained in the appended reports weren’t accessible, the DSS outlined these concerns in a letter dated August 4, 2023.
Unverified reports suggested that El-Rufai withdrew his interest in the ministerial position following the DSS’s request to halt his Senate clearance pending further investigations. Allegedly, he informed President Tinubu of his decision during a visit alongside former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike. El-Rufai reportedly indicated his intention to focus on his doctorate program in The Netherlands and recommended Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, a former commissioner under his administration, as his replacement.
Following this conversation, it was reported that El-Rufai left the country, although details about his destination remain unconfirmed.
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