Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South senatorial district, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for failing to appoint former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as a minister in his cabinet.

Speaking during an interview, Ndume stated that El-Rufai would have been one of the few officials with the courage to speak truth to power, something he believes the current administration severely lacks.

"I'm not El-Rufai's fan or friend or anything. But truth must be told, you see that was where Mr. President got it wrong," Senator Ndume said during the interview.

The lawmaker further explained his position, saying, "You don't form your government with dependents. And most of it, the President is a king maker, remember? So when the king maker becomes a king, then there is a problem which he must identify himself so that he can have people that will stand up to him and tell him the truth."

Cabinet Composition Concerns

Ndume expressed concern about the current composition of the government, claiming it is "dominated by kleptocrats" and lacks officials willing to provide honest feedback to the President.

BenriNews recalls that President Tinubu had initially nominated El-Rufai for a ministerial position and sent his name to the Senate for screening, but the appointment did not materialize.

Since then, El-Rufai has left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The former FCT Minister has reportedly stated that his current political ambition is to ensure President Tinubu is not re-elected in 2027.

In a recent interview, El-Rufai mentioned that his only goal now is to "correct the mistake" he made in 2023 by working to remove the Tinubu administration through the ballot box.

The relationship between El-Rufai and the Tinubu administration has deteriorated significantly since the former governor was passed over for a cabinet position, highlighting growing divisions within Nigeria's political landscape as the country moves toward the next election cycle.

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