The immediate-past Governor of Kaduna State and embattled ministerial nominee, Nasir El-Rufai, has allegedly declined his nomination to be part of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
The former Governor’s decision was apparently informed by the decision of the Senate to withhold his confirmation as a Minister alongside two other nominees over pending security clearance.
Credible sources said El-Rufai was embarrassed by the Senate’s decision, which was taken on Monday and days after he had appeared before the Senators for screening.
According to an online newspaper Premium Times, El-Rufai already disclosed his decision with President Tinubu at a meeting held on Tuesday at the State House, Abuja.
He was said to have informed the President about his lack of interest in becoming a minister as he would prefer to continue to contribute his quota to the development of Nigeria as an ordinary citizen.
The online newspaper cited an unamed source in the Presidency saying this happened after El-Rufai visited the President at the Presidential Villa a day after the Senate confirmed 45 ministerial nominees out of 48 forwarded to it.
LEADERSHIP reports that the other nominees whose confirmations were pending include Stella Okotete from Delta State and Abubakar Sani Danladi from Taraba State.
The said source further revealed that El-Rufai had also suggested a new ministerial nominee — Jafaru Ibrahim Sani — for Kaduna State, saying the President would find him very serviceable and resourceful in his administration as he had served as a Commissioner in three ministries in Kaduna State.