Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, has debunked speculations that the president failed to reward Nasir El-Rufai for his support during the 2023 presidential elections.
Onanuga clarified that Tinubu indeed nominated El-Rufai for a ministerial role, but the Senate rejected the appointment.
In an interview with Arise News, Onanuga acknowledged El-Rufai’s key contributions to Tinubu’s victory and added that the president showed appreciation publicly.
According to him, El-Rufai had indicated plans to pursue studies abroad, but Tinubu persuaded him to stay and wait. Onanuga stressed that the rejection came from the Senate and not the president.
He further mentioned that El-Rufai wasn’t the only nominee turned down by the Senate. He recalled that another nominee also faced similar rejection, although he couldn’t recall the name of the person.
In his words, “Nasir El-Rufai, yeah, I agree. He did a lot of work for the president. He, in fact, at a public function, the president acknowledged his role, and in fact, he told him.”
“Because El-Rufai was saying he was going to go abroad for studies, and Tinubu said no wait and stay. He nominated him for a ministerial job, but unfortunately the Senate turned down his nomination.”
“So you cannot put that on the president. That’s what happened to him. that blame should go to the Senate that rejected the nomination.”
“The president fulfilled his own part of the bargain. He wanted him to be; in fact, he was casting him to be minister of power. But as I said, the Senate, for what is best known to them, said, no, we’re not going to approve this nomination.”
“So you cannot blame the president for that. I think you should blame it on the Senate. I’m not sure he was the only one that the Senate said, no, we’re not going to have this kind of person.
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