Pulse.ng : Ex-Commissioners, other loyalists urge Senate to confirm El-rufai’s Ministerial nomination

By Sani Idris

Ex-Commissioners and other loyalists of former Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir Elrufa’i, has urged the Senate to confirm his Ministerial nomination.

The Former Commissioners who served during the reign of Elrufa’i, made the call while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Kaduna under the auspices of Like Minds Forum of Nigeria (LMFN).

The Coordinator of the Forum, Dr Shehu Usman, said the allegations against El-Rufai were desperation of certain interests
seeking vengeance against him and to embarrass and undermine President Bola Tinubu.

He wondered why security agencies didn’t arrest and charge Elrufa’i to
court over the allegations against him after May 29, 2023 when he no longer enjoyed the immunity that was
provided by the constitution by virtue of his position as governor.

“Why did the petitioners
waited so long for the ministerial screening for them to smuggle a petition, why was a copy of
the petition not given to El-Rufai for an appropriate response?

“There were other petitions, as
explained by the Senate President, why were other petitions not brought to the Senate chamber
during the screening exercise? Why only that against El-Rufai?,” he wondered.

Usman noted that going by precedents, all security issues and subsequent clearance are
treated before the transmission of nominations to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

He further said that it was necessary to harp on Elrufai’s political credentials and achievements, noting that it was the basis for the desire of Nigerians for his services.

“Principally, Nigerians are of the belief that Elrufa’i will help to make our nation better, especially in the power
sector.

“El-Rufai still remains one of the strongest allies of
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He played a key role in ensuring power shift to the south against all odds.

“He played a key role towards both the emergence of President Tinubu as the candidate of the APC and his subsequent electoral victory in spite of the machinations to foist the former Senate
President,”Usman said.

He therefore implore the Presidency, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Senate as an institution and the Senate President as an individual to explain to Nigerians the real reason why El-Rufai’s confirmation was botched.

He also called on Elrufa’i to be patient and not be distracted by his confirmation saga by accepting the Ministerial position when the Senate and presidency reconsider shelving their initiy plan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Coordinator of the forum, was a Former Commissioner of Education under El-rufai’s administration in Kaduna.

Others were Hajiya Hafsat Baba the former Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Ibrahim Ussaini, the Former Commissioner for Environment and Amina Baloni, the former Commissioner of Health, among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)