Socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu deliberately sidelined former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in order to make him “politically irrelevant” and humiliate him.
Yesufu stated that despite reported security concerns raised by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Senate could have confirmed El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination if Tinubu had truly wanted him in his cabinet.
Reacting to comments on the recent certificate forgery scandal and resignation of the former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, Yesufu took to her handle to weigh in on the controversy.
She wrote, “Nasir El-Rufai’s case is that Tinubu wanted to humiliate him. DSS excuse was just that, excuse. Even if DSS had found him wanting, with the National Assembly deeply in Tinubu’s pocket, he could have commanded them to confirm him.”
Yesufu further argued that the President had alternative ways to accommodate El-Rufai in his administration but chose not to.
“Even after the National Assembly had refused to confirm him, Tinubu could have either given him an appointment that didn’t need confirmation from the National Assembly or made him a strong ally like that of Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura. He didn’t, he left him out in the cold,” she said.
The activist suggested that El-Rufai’s only path back to political relevance lies in opposing Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“Tinubu wants El-Rufai to be politically irrelevant, and El-Rufai needs to have Tinubu removed from office in 2027 to regain his political credibility. In all of it, na dem dem,” she added.
