El-Rufai Claims: “I Know People Who Paid for Ministerial Appointments”

Nasir El-Rufai has alleged that some individuals paid money to secure ministerial positions in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He made this claim during an interview with BBC Hausa.

In July 2023, Tinubu submitted a list of ministerial nominees, including El-Rufai, to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

However, the Senate withheld the nomination of El-Rufai and others, citing security concerns.

When asked during the BBC interview if he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to the ministerial snub, El-Rufai stated that he did not “contest” for the position but was instead persuaded by the president to accept the nomination.

“Yes, that’s what they say, but did I contest for minister? I know some that paid money before they put their names as ministers,” El-Rufai said.

The former governor of Kaduna stated that Tinubu personally appealed to him to serve as a minister to address the country’s longstanding electricity challenges.

He said: “Mr President begged me, and even the whole world knows he begged me in Kaduna, and he asked me to come and work with him.

“I didn’t accept it until we met and talked with him. He told me that he wants me to tackle the issue of electricity.

“He said all past presidents have failed, and he wants to be the president that would make that electricity issue come to an end. Because of this challenge, I thought he was real.”

When asked if he regretted supporting Tinubu in 2023, El-Rufai said he did not, though he expressed disappointment.

On Monday, March 10, the former minister resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).