Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s promise not to return to the Federal Executive Council as minister in the present administration, 20 years after being the Minister of Federal Capital Territory(FCT), has been overtaken by events.
A source close to the former governor, was reacting to the video which has gone viral on social media, said that, “El-Rufai’s vow in clip was made in a media chat that he granted on July 29, 2022.’’
The source who does not want to be named, pointed out that ‘’Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu publicly asked El-Rufai to rescind that promise three months later which the then governor did.’’
‘’As the presidential candidate of APC, Asiwaju was a Special Guest at the Kaduna Investment and Economic Summit in October. When it was his turn to speak, he told El-Rufai point blank that he must be part of the next administration.
‘’In fact, the Jagaban Borgu threatened that he would not leave the podium until El-Rufai publicly denounce his earlier promise of going abroad for further studies instead of becoming a minister.
‘’This can be authenticated by the video clip of the KADInvest, where Asiwaju’s threat drew uproarious laughter and applause from the audience when he made the threat. Dignitaries like Senator Uba Sani can be seen leading Malam to the podium.
‘’When El-Rufai got to the stage, he promised to be part of the incoming APC administration, which he largely helped to actualise, especially for being the arrowhead of the Northern governors who insisted on power shift to the south, to supporting Asiwaju during the presidential primaries and campaigning for him during the general election,’’ the source argued.
The source further pointed out that ‘’El-Rufai was not desperate to become minister unlike some ex governors who virtually relocated to Asiwaju’s private residence and the presidential villa before and after swearing in.’’
According to him, El-Rufai was lobbied to be made minister because the former governor will add value to the Tinubu administration which is poised to take Nigeria to greater heights.
