Why Tinubu rejected El-Rufai as minister, by Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has hinted on why President Bola Tinubu changed his mind against making Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, one of his ministers.

El-Rufai had at an interview with Arise TV debunked security reports against him as the main reason why the National Assembly rejected his nomination, saying it was Tinubu that changed his mind.

But in a post on his X handle, which many believe is a direct jab at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Sani wrote, “Neither in the present nor in the nearest future; No Nigerian President in his right senses will ever closely embrace or trust a man who repeatedly celebrated and gloated about sending President Yar’Adua to his grave. It’s a case of ‘if you can do this and say this about your own brother, what about me?’ No one will ever admit a man into his house who came with a sword stained with the blood of his brother.”

Although he did not mention any names, netizens quickly linked the statement to El-Rufai, given their long-standing feud and history of social media clashes. The former senator and ex-governor have repeatedly exchanged heated words online, with Sani often taking shots at El-Rufai’s political career.

The timing of the post has further fueled speculations, as it comes just after El-Rufai’s explosive interview on Arise TV, where he spoke about his strained relationship with President Tinubu and his uncertain future in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Social media users have since flooded the comment section with mixed reactions, with some supporting Sani’s stance while others accused him of reigniting old political grudges.