Presidency To El-Rufai: It’s Time To Move On, Accept Your Rejection

The Presidency on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, said that it was time for former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to move on and accept his being excluded from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ministerial appointment.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who stated this when he featured on Channels Television programme; ‘Sunrise Daily’, said that it was clear that El-Rufai is still nursing the pains of his exclusion from the membership of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

El-Rufai was ab initio nominated for a ministerial position, but later dropped by the Senate over security clearance.

However, since his name was dropped from the list of those that made up the Tinubu cabinet, El-Rufai became increasingly critical of the administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In an interview with Arise Television on Monday, February 24, 2025, El-Rufai pointedly said that it was President Tinubu, who ultimately rejected his ministerial appointment and not the Senate.

But, presidential spokesperson, Onanuga countered El-Rufai’s postulations on Channels Television, saying; he (El-Rufai) need to move past the disappointment of not being a minister.

In the words of Onanuga; “I will pity former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. He feels hurt that he was not made a minister, but I think it’s time for him to move on.

“You cannot continue to behave like a child as if someone stole his bread and things like that and then you are crying over spilt milk”.

While acknowledging that El-Rufai has every right to feel aggrieved after playing a significant role in Tinubu’s election victory, Onanuga however, said it was natural for him to feel bad that he was excluded.

According to Onanuga; “I think the president has acknowledged in a recent tribute to him that Nasir did a lot in installing President Tinubu, and if he is not there it doesn’t mean he will bring down the roof”.

Onanuga further said that President Tinubu holds no grudges against El-Rufai, in spite of the fact that the former governor of Kaduna State has been actively campaigning against the president out of resentment.

He therefore tasked El-Rufai to move on, adding that he has been in public service since 1999 and it is time for him to let go.