Kaduna Gov. thwarts El-Rufai’s nomination plan, demands alternate pick
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has rejected the potential ministerial candidacy of Jafaru Sani, proposed by Nasir El-Rufai.
El-Rufai had informed President Bola Tinubu of his withdrawal from ministerial consideration, presenting Jafaru Sani as his replacement, citing their close ties in Kaduna.
Nevertheless, upon his return from a trip to London, Governor Sani expressed his dissent to Tinubu, stating that he disagreed with Jafaru Sani’s nomination due to his limited political influence in Kaduna and unwavering loyalty to El-Rufai.
Governor Sani’s objection could potentially escalate the ongoing political dispute involving El-Rufai, who decided to withdraw from consideration due to perceived insufficient support from the president amid mounting criticism.
This resistance against El-Rufai’s nomination reportedly gained traction under the advocacy of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, who endorsed a contentious security report that accused El-Rufai of engaging in violence and corruption.
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El-Rufai’s history, marked by allegations of violence, provocative statements, and corruption charges, has elicited diverse reactions among Nigerian intellectuals.
This scenario echoes past incidents, such as when the State Security Service presented conflicting reports regarding the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the head of the anti-graft office EFCC in 2016.
Initially, El-Rufai’s nomination was expected to fortify a more stable administration under Tinubu’s leadership, but Senate postponement resulting from public objections disrupted this trajectory.
El-Rufai attributed the nomination setback to Tinubu, suggesting potential underlying animosity between them.
El-Rufai’s endorsement of Jafaru Sani as his successor governor in Kaduna had underscored his political influence. However, Governor Sani’s opposition threatens to undermine this dynamic.
Unfortunately, the involved parties were unreachable for comment on these unfolding events.
This situation has unveiled latent tensions between El-Rufai and Governor Sani, underscoring the intricacy of their relationship.
“We can only hope Malam El-Rufai is not too surprised by what Uba Sani just did to him,” a State House source remarked about the governor’s countermove. “They clearly have some unresolved issues between them.”
