Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has responded to remarks made by the Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication, Daniel Bwala, and the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, regarding a ministerial appointment.
Bwala recently alleged, via a post on his verified X handle, that El-Rufai was plotting to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Similarly, Basiru, during an appearance on TVC, stated that El-Rufai had no entitlement to a ministerial position in the Tinubu-led government.
In a statement posted on his verified X account on Thursday, El-Rufai dismissed the claims, emphasizing that he had informed President Tinubu that he was not interested in any position in his administration. He criticized those he described as “latter-day converts” to the Tinubu government for making an issue out of a role he never sought, calling it a reflection of their “moral flexibility.”
El-Rufai asserted that had he been part of the Tinubu government, he would have raised concerns over challenges within the APC and the administration—first privately and then publicly if necessary reforms were not implemented.
“I was a cabinet minister 22 years ago, and I made it clear to Asiwaju that I was not interested in any position in his government. The way some individuals are fixating on a role I never pursued is telling of their moral compass,” El-Rufai stated.
He further accused certain individuals of being political operatives who receive financial incentives to defend the Tinubu administration uncritically. However, he expressed a degree of regard for Bwala, suggesting that he might still be a “decent person who may need a job.”
El-Rufai concluded his response by advising Bwala to prioritize allegiance to God and the nation over loyalty to any individual or political authority.
The exchanges highlight ongoing tensions within the ruling party and the broader political landscape as various factions assert their positions on the direction of the Tinubu administration.
Comments