Groups Tackle Senate Over Non Confirmation Of El-Rufai As Minister, Says It’s Conspiracy

By Ayodele Oni

Former political office holders in the administration of the immediate past Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-El-Rufai, under the aegis of a group of Like Minds Forum of Nigeria and Zazzau Emirate have taken up the Senate over its non-clearance of the former Governor for a Ministerial position.

They criticized the Senate for withholding the confirmation of  El-Rufai, as a Minister,  and described it as procedurally wrong and politically defective.

El-Rufai’s name was among those sent to the Senate by the Presidency as a Ministerial nominee, but his clearance had to be deferred, with the Senate citing some security issues.

The former Governor had, reportedly claimed that President Bola Tinubu had earlier given him an assurance and even assigned a portfolio to him.

He reportedly  lost interest in the position when he was not cleared alongside others,  and had even nominated his replacement while he proceeded for further studies overseas.

The former political office holders maintained that they sensed conspiracy by the senators against  El-Rufai after being nominated by President Bola Tinubu. .

Their spokesman, a former Commissioner for Education in the State, Prof Shehu Muhammad, wondered why security agencies had not arrested or charged El-Rufai to Court based on the so-called petitions against him.

He also expressed worry over the refusal of the Senate to make the petitions against the former Governor public if indeed there was nothing fishy about the entire process.

The Zazzau Emirate and Kaduna State Government are planning to send a strong delegation to the Presidency to prevail on it to give back El-Rufai the Ministerial slot, because he was not fairly treated.