Former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has delivered a scathing assessment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking during a live appearance on Arise Television on Monday, El-Rufai, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under President Olusegun Obasanjo, said he was disappointed by the quality of individuals in Tinubu’s cabinet.
He described the current federal cabinet as bloated, underperforming, and lacking the competence required to tackle Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
The former governor lamented that despite appointing the largest cabinet in Nigeria’s history, only “about five” of the ministers could be considered serious.
“Look at his cabinet—it’s a joke. It is the largest in Nigeria’s history, and maybe only five of them can be called real ministers.”
“In my time as a minister 20 years ago, we had individuals of the calibre of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Oby Ezekwesili. Who do you see in this cabinet that fits that profile? There is simply no quality. We brought a tragedy upon Nigeria.” El-Rufai said.
El-Rufai expressed regret over his support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, stating that his decision was based on faith in the president’s legacy in Lagos, which he described as “inclusive and technocratic.”
He credited Tinubu’s earlier success as governor of Lagos (1999–2007) to his ability to attract competent professionals from various sectors and regions, including the appointment of Yemi Osinbajo, Wale Edun, and others from various ethnicities.
“I supported him because I believed in his Lagos legacy. He was inclusive. He brought in professionals like Yemi Osinbajo and Wale Edun from the private sector. He appointed Igbos and Hausas in key roles, and he got things done. But now… this?” El-Rufai lamented.
The former minister said he now feels a moral obligation to take action.
“I feel like I owe Nigeria a duty to correct this mistake. I am 65 now, approaching retirement, but I cannot rest knowing that I helped bring in a government that is hurting Nigerians. I will do all I can, with others, to reverse this trajectory. If we leave this unchecked, Nigeria will be destroyed.” He stressed.
El-Rufai also disclosed that contrary to public perception, he never had a close personal relationship with President Tinubu.
He attributed their distance to his loyalty to former President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that Tinubu had his own inner circle within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I was never close to Tinubu. In the party, I was a ‘Buhari boy.’ Tinubu had his boys. The person I connected with was Baba Bisi Akande. I served as his deputy national secretary. So Tinubu never liked me. But when he won the ticket, I set my personal feelings aside and worked hard to deliver Kaduna for him. That was my duty as a party man,” he said.
