Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that some individuals paid money to secure ministerial appointments in President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He made this claim during an interview with BBC Hausa.
In July 2023, Tinubu submitted a list of ministerial nominees, including El-Rufai, to the Senate for screening and confirmation. However, El-Rufai’s nomination, along with a few others, was withheld due to security concerns.
When asked if he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) because of the ministerial snub, El-Rufai denied seeking the position, stating that he was personally approached by the president.
“Yes, that’s what they say, but did I contest for minister? I know some who paid money before their names were included as ministers,” El-Rufai revealed.
He explained that Tinubu had specifically asked him to help address Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges.
“Mr. President begged me, and even the whole world knows he begged me in Kaduna, asking me to come and work with him. I didn’t accept it until we met and discussed. He told me he wanted me to tackle the issue of electricity. He said all past presidents had failed, and he wanted to be the one to finally resolve the electricity problem. Because of this challenge, I thought he was serious,” El-Rufai said.
When questioned if he regretted supporting Tinubu in the 2023 elections, El-Rufai stated that he did not regret his decision but expressed disappointment with the current state of affairs.
On Monday, March 10, El-Rufai officially resigned from the APC and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), marking a significant shift in his political allegiance. His allegations have sparked further debate about transparency and accountability in political appointments under the Tinubu administration.
