THE Presidency on Tuesday said former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai feels hurt over his exclusion from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said it is time for El-Rufai to move on and stop behaving like a child crying over spilled milk.
He was reacting to El-Rufai’s remark that Tinubu rejected him, not the National Assembly, despite begging him to become a minister in his cabinet.
The former governor made the allegation while featuring on Arise Television on Monday evening.
However, Onanuga said El-Rufai’s reaction is natural after being rejected as a minister.
In an interview with Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Onanuga said: “As a person, I think I will pity the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. He feels hurt that he was not made a minister. I think it is time for him to move on. He can’t continue to behave like a child, as if somebody stole his bread and he is crying.
“It’s natural for him to feel hurt about being excluded, and the president acknowledged in his birthday message that Nasir helped a lot in installing Tinubu. If he’s not there, it doesn’t mean he should bring down the roof.
“The president has no animosity against Nasir. He naturally feels hurt that he has been excluded, so he goes about campaigning against the president and would not let go.
“He should forget about not being made a minister. He has been in public service since 1999; it’s time for him to move on.”
Also, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has refuted an allegation made by a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, that he is planning to tarnish his reputation because of his 2031 presidential ambition.
Ribadu emphatically said he was too preoccupied with his current assignments and would not join issues with former Governor of Kaduna State.
El-Rufai had made the claim in an interview with ARISE News Channel Monday night, during which he said Ribadu was no more his friend as he was the mastermind of his current ordeal.
El-Rufai alleged that Mr Ribadu was doing so because he is interested in succeeding President Bola Tinubu in 2031.
In response to El-rufai’s allegation, Ribadu said if his silence wouldn’t risk being construed as consent, he would have ignored the former governor.
“I am too preoccupied with my current assignment as to get into a media fight with Nasir El-Rufai or anyone else,” he added.
Ribadu said, “despite the incessant baiting and attacks I have never spoken ill of Nasir on record anywhere”, adding, “this is out of respect for our past association and our respective families. I will not start today.”
He however debunked the attempt by El-rufai to hinge the corruption allegation he was facing at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and the Kaduna House of Assembly on Ribadu’s alleged 2031 presidential ambition and the NSA’s bid to eliminate anyone considered an obstacle.
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“For the avoidance of doubt, I want to put it on record that I have never discussed running for president in 2031 with anybody. All my focus and energy are geared completely towards the advancement of Nigeria and the success of the President Tinubu administration,” Ribadu said.
While urging the public to disregard El-rufai’s statements against him, Ribadu said, “I therefore ask Nasir El-Rufai to allow me face my onerous national assignment just as I do not bother myself with his own affairs.”
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