In a recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai made startling allegations regarding the integrity of ministerial appointments within President Bola Tinubu's administration. El-Rufai claimed that certain individuals secured their ministerial roles through financial inducements, stating, "I know people who paid to get ministerial appointments."
El-Rufai, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), expressed deep disappointment with the current state of the APC. He lamented that the party has strayed from its founding principles, accusing it of prioritizing personal interests and wealth accumulation over public service. He remarked, "The APC abandoned the ideals that led to its formation. It has abandoned the people. Everyone is now pursuing personal interests and wealth. The government has become a business enterprise where everything has a price."
Addressing speculations that his departure was due to not receiving a ministerial appointment, El-Rufai refuted such claims, emphasizing that he never sought such a position. He highlighted that his decision was based on the party's deviation from its original mission and the commercialization of governance. He further criticized the concentration of key appointments among a select group from Lagos, asserting that those who genuinely worked for the party's success have been marginalized. He stated, "There is no justice. Those who worked for the party are not recognized, let alone rewarded. Appointments are now controlled by a select group from Lagos. The party is dead."
El-Rufai also revealed that he consulted with several prominent political figures, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, before making his decision to leave the APC. He sought their opinions on the matter, indicating that his move was well-considered and not made in haste.
These revelations have sparked intense discussions about the integrity of the current administration and the internal dynamics of the APC. As of now, neither the Presidency nor the APC leadership has officially responded to El-Rufai's allegations. The claims have, however, ignited debates about the transparency of ministerial appointments and the direction of the ruling party.
Keywords: El-Rufai allegations, ministerial appointments, APC internal crisis, Tinubu administration, political corruption in Nigeria, party defection, governance commercialization, political integrity, Nigerian politics, public service ethics.
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