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I know persons who paid to be appointed ministers – El-Rufai alleges

Nasir El-Rufai has claimed that some persons paid money to become ministers in the President Bola Tinubu administration. 

He made this claim during an interview with BBC Hausa. 

In July 2023, Tinubu sent the list of ministerial nominees, including El-Rufai, to the senate for screening and confirmation. 

However, the senate withheld the nomination of El-Rufai and some others, citing security reasons. 

Asked during the BBC interview if he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) because of the ministerial snub, El-Rufai said he did not “contest” for the position but was begged by the president to be nominated. 

“Yes, that’s what they say, but did I contest for minister? I know some that paid money before they put their names as ministers,” El-Rufai said. 

The former governor of Kaduna stated that Tinubu begged him to come and serve as minister to resolve the country’s perennial electricity challenge. 

He said: “Mr President begged me, and even the whole world knows he begged me in Kaduna, and he asked me to come and work with him. 

“I didn’t accept it until we met and talked with him. He told me that he wants me to tackle the issue of electricity. 

“He said all past presidents have failed, and he wants to be the president that would make that electricity issue come to an end. Because of this challenge, I thought he was real.” 

Asked if he regretted supporting Tinubu in 2023, he said he did not, adding that he is disappointed nonetheless. 

On Monday, March 10, the former minister resigned his membership of the APC and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).