Nasir El-Rufai claims some people have paid to become ministers of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He made this claim in an interview with BBC Hausa.
In July 2023, Tinubu sent a list of ministerial candidates, including El-Rufai, to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
However, the Senate retained the nominations from El-Rufai and some others for security reasons.
When asked whether he left all the Progress Conference (APC) due to the minister’s refusal, El-Rufai said he did not “compete” the position, but was pleaded for nomination by the president.
“Yes, that’s what they said, but am I running for minister? I know some people pay before they name them minister.”
Kaduna’s former governor said Tinubu begged him to serve as minister to address the country’s perennial power challenge.
He said: “Mr. President begged me, and even the whole world knows that he begged me in Kaduna and he wants me to come and work with him.
“I didn’t accept it until we met and talked to him. He told me he wanted me to solve the power problem.
“He said all the presidents of the past have failed and he wanted to be the president that would end the electricity issue. Because of this challenge, I think he is real.”
When asked if he regrets supporting Tinubu in 2023, he said he did not, adding that he was still disappointed.
On Monday, March 10, the former minister resigned from membership of the APC and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
