By Daniel Edu
Osita Okechukwu, a foundational member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), has made a plea to President Bola Tinubu not to remove Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, from a potential ministerial position.
Although Tinubu had put forward El-Rufai’s name for a ministerial role, the Senate reportedly declined to confirm his nomination due to concerns raised in a security report.
In a statement provided to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Okechukwu stressed the importance of El-Rufai’s presence in Tinubu’s administration, particularly in relation to the power sector.
Okechukwu stated, “The exceptional qualities that El-Rufai brings are something that we shouldn’t let go to waste. It’s in the best interest of both our nation and President Tinubu not to overlook this remarkable individual. Additionally, our political party, the APC, will reap significant benefits from a team of accomplished ministers as we approach the 2027 general elections.”
He continued, “Removing him from the equation could potentially result in the exclusion of more Nigerians from accessing reliable electricity. Our country is already witnessing the exclusion of affluent citizens due to inconsistent power supply, and many underprivileged citizens are struggling with high tariffs. We require someone as distinct as El-Rufai to address these issues.”
Okechukwu clarified, “I am not advocating for Mallam Nasir El-Rufai blindly, nor am I suggesting that he is irreplaceable. However, given his track record as a proactive leader, he possesses the necessary skills to not only revolutionize our power sector but also to cleanse the toxic aspects of the energy industry.”
