By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has jetted out of the country after his ministerial nomination was rejected and President Tinubu’s refusal to wade in to save him.
A source revealed that El-Rufai was off to Europe, but will be in Egypt first before heading to his final destination.
The senate had last week approved the appointment of 45, out of the 48 ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
El-Rufai, and two other nominees; Stella Okotete (Delta) and Danladi Abubakar (Taraba) were not confirmed as the senate said they were awaiting security clearance about them.
Recall how Sunday Karimi, Senator representing Kogi west, presented a petition against el-Rufai during his screening last week but was later shutdown.
The former governor met with Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja, on Tuesday with Nnysom Wike, but the outcome of the meeting was not made public.
Presidency sources quoted by some media, said El-Rufai told President Tinubu that he was no longer interested in becoming a minister, but would continue to contribute his quota to the development of Nigeria as a private citizen.
“He also told the president that he needed time to focus on his doctorate degree programme at a university in The Netherlands”, another source quited to have said.
Another source was quoted as saying that El-Rufai suggested a new ministerial nominee, Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, as replacement to get the appointment for Kaduna.
