Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, saying it is unable to address Nigeria’s present issues.
The comments were made by El-Rufai, who was also the Federal Capital Territory’s Minister, in an interview with Arise TV on Monday.
He claimed that the technological prowess Tinubu possessed while serving as Lagos State’s governor from 1999 to 2007 is absent from the current administration.
El-Rufai stated, “This cabinet is the biggest in Nigeria’s history, but only a small number of them can be considered capable or effective.”
He noted that people like Oby Ezekwesili and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who contributed professional expertise and competence to governance, were a part of earlier administrations.
“Where are the professionals in this government? There’s clearly a lack of quality. What we have now is a disappointment,” he added.
The former governor also admitted he shares in the blame, having supported Tinubu during the 2023 election based on the president’s record in Lagos.
“I supported him because I believed in the legacy he left in Lagos. He brought in experts like Yemi Osinbajo and Wale Edun, and appointed people from different backgrounds. But what we are seeing today is not what I expected,” he said.
El-Rufai stated that he now feels obliged to speak up and assist in undoing what he called a grave error.
“I can’t watch helplessly as Nigerians endure this suffering.” We might be in serious trouble if we don’t make the necessary corrections,” he continued.
He added that he was more in line with previous President Muhammadu Buhari and that he had never had a close personal relationship with Tinubu.
Within the party, I was regarded as a supporter of Buhari. Tinubu had a camp of his own. “I had a stronger bond with Baba Bisi Akande,” he added.
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