Former Kaduna State Governor and one-time Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, has described President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet as lacking in quality.
He said the cabinet is devoid of the competence needed to address the country’s challenges.
Speaking on a political programme aired on Arise News on Monday, El-Rufai said he expected Tinubu to replicate the technocratic and inclusive governance model he adopted in Lagos as the state governor between 1999 and 2007.
He, however, expressed disappointment that the president had instead assembled a bloated and underperforming cabinet.
“Look at his cabinet—it’s a joke. It is the largest in Nigeria’s history, and maybe only five of them can be called real ministers.
“In my time as a minister 20 years ago, we had individuals of the calibre of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Oby Ezekwesili.
“Who do you see in this cabinet that fits that profile? There is simply no quality. We brought a tragedy upon Nigeria,” El-Rufai said during the live interview
The former governor admitted that he shared in the blame of the “tragedy” that he claimed the Tinubu administration has become.
He said his support for the president during the 2023 elections was based on faith in Tinubu’s past achievements in Lagos—but that faith has since been betrayed.
“I supported him because I believed in his Lagos legacy. He was inclusive. He brought in professionals like Yemi Osinbajo and Wale Edun from the private sector. He appointed Igbos and Hausas in key roles, and he got things done. But now… this?
“I feel like I owe Nigeria a duty to correct this mistake. I am 65 now, approaching retirement, but I cannot rest knowing that I helped bring in a government that is hurting Nigerians.
“I will do all I can, with others, to reverse this trajectory. If we leave this unchecked, Nigeria will be destroyed,” El-Rufai declared.
He also revealed that he and Tinubu never enjoyed a close relationship, despite being in the same political party.
He attributed the distance to his loyalty to former President Muhammadu Buhari, with whom he had a stronger bond.
“I was never close to Tinubu. In the party, I was a ‘Buhari boy.’ Tinubu had his boys.
“The person I connected with was Baba Bisi Akande. I served as his deputy national secretary.
“So Tinubu never liked me. But when he won the ticket, I set my personal feelings aside and worked hard to deliver Kaduna for him. That was my duty as a party man”, El-Rufai said.
