Mallam Nasir El- Rufai reportedly withdraws interest in ministerial appointment, recommends replacement.
The immediate history Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El- Rufai, has reportedly withdrawn his interest in being part of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
According to Premium Times, administration sources said Mallam El- Rufai told President Tinubu at a meeting on Tuesday that he was no longer interested in becoming a minister but would continue to contribute his quota to the development of Nigeria as a private citizen.
“ He also told the president that he demanded time to concentrate on his doctorate programme at a university in The Netherlands, ” a source said.
Another bigwig also told Premium Times that the former governor suggested a new ministerial nominee — Jafaru Ibrahim Sani — for Kaduna State, saying the President would find him truly useful and resourceful.
Mr Sani served as commissioner in three ministries in Kaduna State Viz: Local Government Education and Environment) while Mr El- Rufai was governor.
“ Our sources said on getting alive of the Senate pronouncement on his case, Mr El- Rufai, who only returned to Nigeria from London on Monday, sought and got an appointment to meet the president.
At the meeting on Tuesday afterlife, President Tinubu, according to our sources, told the former governor he received some petitions critical of his ministerial nomination.
The president also asked for 24 hours grace to review the petitions and the SSS report to the Senate to enable him to reach a decision.
It was at that point that Mr El- Rufai responded that he was no longer interested in being minister since it appeared some forces around the president were scheming intensely to block his emergence as civil minister, ” the report stated.