Nasir El-Rufai’s statements on Arise TV have shed new light on the circumstances surrounding his withdrawal from consideration as a ministerial nominee under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He firmly refuted claims that the National Assembly rejected his nomination, instead asserting that President Tinubu himself opted to change his mind.
Here’s a breakdown of the key points from El-Rufai’s interview:
- Presidential Decision, Not Rejection:
- El-Rufai emphasized that his withdrawal was not due to a rejection by the Senate. He stated that President Tinubu ultimately decided to alter his initial nomination.
- He said that the president “changed his mind on the nomination”
- Presidential Appeals and Conditions:
- He claimed that President Tinubu “begged him” regarding the ministerial position.
- He mentioned that he had laid out certain conditions, implying that there were discussions and negotiations prior to the final decision.
- Dismissal of Security Report:
- El-Rufai strongly dismissed the existence of any credible security report that supposedly led to his exclusion.
- He said that “The so called security report is now where to be found and there is nothing like that”
- This directly challenges earlier speculations that his nomination was withdrawn due to security concerns raised by certain agencies.
- Acceptance of the Outcome:
- Despite the circumstances, El-Rufai conveyed an attitude of acceptance, stating that it was “okay” for the president to change his mind.
This interview has significantly altered the narrative surrounding El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination. It shifted the focus from a potential Senate rejection to a presidential decision, and it also cast doubt on the validity of the security report narrative.
