Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, has disclosed why El-Rufai was not appointed to Tinubu’s cabinet.
In an interview with Premium Times, the minister stated that El-Rufai’s inability to join the president’s cabinet was due to the National Assembly, and that Tinubu should not be held responsible.
Mr Bagudu added that President Tinubu demonstrated “character and promise keeping” by appointing Mr El-Rufai to be a minister in his cabinet, but the National Assembly, as an institution, denied his approval.
The Senate has been granted a constitutional role in the confirmation process. If they choose to deny any of us, they are affirming their confirmation authority.
“Our constitution limits the president’s ability to do everything. Is this fair? But that is how the laws have been formulated. I wish the National Assembly had confirmed him. When asked why Mr Tinubu didn’t intervene or persuade the National Assembly to confirm Mr El-Rufai, Mr Bagudu declined to speculate.
What happened objectively was that the president nominated him. We know his name was read in the Senate. He went to the National Assembly to get screened. He answered all of the questions posed to him.
However, several have stepped down. “So, that’s an objective viewpoint. That’s what occurred. I can’t answer speculatively, but I feel that the president submitting your name, or bringing you to the National Assembly, is the best indication of the president’s willingness and confidence in you,” he remarked.