Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, President Bola Tinubu actually promised the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufa’i, not just a ministerial slot but the portfolio of the new Federal Ministry of Energy.
It was reported that following the cast iron assurance by Tinubu, el-Rufa’i thereafter mobilised his team and produced a blueprint that got Tinubu excited ahead of his nomination.
According to the former governor’s media aide, Ibraheem Shehu Musa, in an opinion piece article published yesterday, a disappointed el-Rufa’i accused Tinubu of duplicity in the comedy of errors which trailed his nomination and screening both at the Senate and the security agencies.
He stated in part: “Specifically, the president-elect promised el-Rufa’i, in no uncertain terms, the new ministry of energy. Thereafter, el-Rufa’i mobilised his team and produced a blueprint that wowed Tinubu, about three weeks before his ministerial nomination”.
He further stated that “afterwards, the comedy of errors began, first by a security chief who, in a hurry to nail el-Rufai, breached official communications protocol. First, he wrongly sent a letter to the senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters, instead of the senate president.
“Secondly, the letter was signed by a Director of the Department of Security Service and not the President. Thirdly, the issues raised were rehashed political altercations and selective interpretations. Besides, the ban on el-Rufa’i from holding public office, a recommendation of a house committee, has been quashed by the court. The Senate, on mere allegations, refused to confirm el-Rufa’i as minister.
On the President’s alleged duplicity on the matter, the media aide said: “However, when el-Rufa’i met with Tinubu, the usually forthright and straight-talking president, according to reports, pleaded for time to deal with the matter.
“Tinubu, at that point, started being evasive, like the politician that Tony Wilson sang about. el-Rufa’i, on his part, has turned his back on the ministerial nomination, gone back to school, to learn, unlearn and relearn, to someday serve the public in another realm.
Accusing politicians of reneging on their promises as their stock in trade, Ibraheem stressed that: “Significantly, el-Rufa’i campaigned vigorously for Asiwaju, and engaged focal groups and the media, to sell Tinubu to the electorate.
“In the end, the APC presidential candidate won the election and thereafter, Tinubu sent emissaries to El-Rufa’i, to firm up his commitment to work with him”, Ibraheem added.
