Presidency tells El-Rufai to move on after ministerial snub

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has stated that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is merely upset about being left out of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

Responding to El-Rufai’s remarks on Arise TV, Onanuga, in an interview with the Channel TV on Tuesday, urged the former governor to move on and stop acting like a child crying over spilt milk.

Onanuga asserted that El-Rufai’s grievances stemmed from his failure to secure a ministerial position.

El-Rufai had earlier claimed that President Tinubu personally blocked his appointment, contrary to the belief that the National Assembly was responsible. He insisted that despite his efforts, it was Tinubu himself who rejected him for the role.

Onanuga, while reacting, acknowledged that El-Rufai’s reaction was natural for someone who had hoped for a ministerial appointment but reiterated that it was time for him to move on past the issue.

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 President 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.”