El-Rufai departs Nigeria after withdrawing ministerial ambition

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has embarked on an international journey following his decision to withdraw his interest in a ministerial appointment. This development has been confirmed by reliable sources, revealing that El-Rufai has left the country for Europe, with Egypt being his initial destination.

The Nigerian Senate had recently granted approval for the appointment of 45 out of the 48 ministerial nominees proposed by President Bola Tinubu. However, El-Rufai, along with Stella Okotete (Delta) and Danladi Abubakar (Taraba), had not received confirmation due to pending security clearances.

El-Rufai’s decision to forgo ministerial aspirations reportedly follows a meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Although details of the encounter were not publicly disclosed, sources from the presidency have indicated that El-Rufai conveyed his intention to withdraw from ministerial consideration. Instead, he expressed his commitment to contributing to Nigeria’s advancement as a private citizen.

Furthermore, sources revealed that El-Rufai cited his pursuit of a doctorate program in The Netherlands as a reason for stepping away from federal ministerial responsibilities. During discussions, he also reportedly suggested Jafaru Ibrahim Sani as a potential ministerial nominee for Kaduna.

As part of his commitment to Nigeria’s development, El-Rufai and his team presented preliminary work accomplished in the energy sector. Among his associates were Eyo Ekpo, a former commissioner at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Hafiz Bayero, an administrator of the Kaduna Capital Territory Authority; Tolu Oyekan of the Boston Consulting Group; and Ayodele Oni, a distinguished lawyer.

In response to queries regarding these developments, Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesperson for El-Rufai, refrained from providing further commentary.