KADUNA, Nigeria – Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has alleged that some individuals paid money to secure ministerial appointments in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, El-Rufai reiterated that Tinubu personally begged him to join his cabinet to address Nigeria’s electricity challenges.
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), dismissed claims that he left the ruling party due to his ministerial nomination being withheld by the Senate.
“Yes, that’s what they say, but did I contest for minister? I know some that paid money before they put their names as ministers,” El-Rufai said.
He revealed that Tinubu had pleaded with him to join his administration, particularly to tackle the country’s persistent electricity problems.
“Mr President begged me, and even the whole world knows he begged me in Kaduna, and he asked me to come and work with him,” El-Rufai said.
“I didn’t accept it until we met and talked with him. He told me that he wants me to tackle the issue of electricity. He said all past presidents have failed, and he wants to be the president that would make that electricity issue come to an end. Because of this challenge, I thought he was real.”
When asked if he regretted supporting Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, El-Rufai said he did not but expressed disappointment with the current administration.
El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination was among those withheld by the Senate in July 2023, citing security concerns. Stella Okotete (Delta) and Danladi Abubakar (Taraba) were also affected.
Since his defection to the SDP, El-Rufai has been critical of the APC and the Tinubu government.
