Ndume: El-Rufai Deserved What He Got, But I Still Don’t Understand What Happened with Tinubu

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has weighed in on the political fallout between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, stating that while El-Rufai may have deserved his exclusion from the ministerial list, the reasons behind the decision remain unclear.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday night, Ndume expressed surprise over El-Rufai’s omission from the cabinet, despite playing a crucial role in Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign.

“El-Rufai was supposed to be on our side — Amaechi’s side. But somehow, he moved to support Tinubu. And Tinubu, as he rightly said, asked him to come on board. Since then, I haven’t been close to El-Rufai because he abandoned our group,” Ndume said.

He noted that El-Rufai, who initially aligned with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi during the APC presidential primaries, switched camps and became a key figure in Tinubu’s campaign machinery.

Following the election victory, Tinubu nominated El-Rufai for a ministerial role. However, despite receiving a warm reception and a “take a bow and go” treatment during Senate screening, El-Rufai’s name was mysteriously dropped from the final list.

“He really mobilised and did a lot for Tinubu. The president nominated him, but up till now, I don’t understand what happened. That’s not my business, though,” Ndume stated.

The senator hinted at political karma, implying El-Rufai’s treatment mirrored his own past actions.

“You did that to us too. It’s payback to yourself. I’m not El-Rufai’s fan, but the truth must be told,” he added.

Ndume criticised President Tinubu’s decision to drop El-Rufai after his confirmed contributions to the campaign, describing it as a misstep.

“That was where Mr. President got it wrong. El-Rufai came to the chamber, and we asked him to take a bow and go. He had the experience and had already laid out plans. He was ready,” he said.

The fallout between Tinubu and El-Rufai continues to raise eyebrows within political circles, with many speculating on the factors that led to the unexpected decision