El-Rufai bitter over failed ministerial bid — Omokri

Political commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has accused former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of being embittered over his failed ministerial nomination, which he claims is driving El-Rufai to attack those working for the betterment of Nigeria.

Omokri made the remarks in response to El-Rufai’s recent interview on Arise TV, where the former governor alleged that President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu were responsible for blocking his ministerial appointment.

El-Rufai claimed during the interview that “the President did not want me in his cabinet,” suggesting that Tinubu had deliberately excluded him from his administration.

In a reaction via his X account on Monday, Omokri dismissed El-Rufai’s claims, stating that the former governor was nominated by President Tinubu but failed to secure security clearance from both national and international intelligence agencies during the Senate confirmation process.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Omokri said. “El-Rufai failed his security screening woefully and was considered a diplomatic liability due to his controversial statements and actions in the past.”

Omokri referenced El-Rufai’s 2019 remarks, where he allegedly threatened European Union observers with “body bags” if they interfered in Nigeria’s elections. He also cited allegations of human rights violations during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor, including his alleged role in the Zaria Shiite Massacre and accusations of paying off herdsmen linked to violence in Southern Kaduna.

Additionally, Omokri highlighted incidents where El-Rufai was accused of demolishing properties belonging to political opponents and critics, including the home of Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and an alleged unjust demolition involving Aisha Yakubu over a mistaken sex party scandal.

Omokri further argued that El-Rufai’s inflammatory statements against Christians, including derogatory comments about Jesus Christ and voters of the Christian faith, also contributed to his failed security clearance.

“For these reasons and more, El-Rufai could not be cleared by the Senate,” Omokri stated. “He has himself to blame—not the President, not the NSA.”

Omokri pointed out that El-Rufai was not the only nominee rejected during the screening process, noting that Danladi Sani from Taraba State and Stella Okotete from Delta State also faced similar rejections. However, unlike El-Rufai, neither blamed the President nor the NSA for their failed nominations.

He said, “In his bitterness over his scuttled ambition, El-Rufai has resorted to attacking those who are focused on bringing betterment to Nigeria.”

El-Rufai eventually withdrew his nomination and recommended Jafaru Sani, his former commissioner for local government, as his replacement.