By Our Reporter
On Monday, 24, 2025, Malam Nasir el-Rufai appeared on Arise Television and accused President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser of being behind his failed ministerial nomination.
He said among other things, that “the President did not want me in his cabinet.”
But below are some of the reasons why Nasir el-Rufai was rejected by the Senate for ministerial confirmation. These reasons are pieced together from information already in the public domain.
1. Failed Security Screening: El-Rufai failed his security clearance, as both national and international security and intelligence agencies flagged concerns.
2. Threatening Foreign Diplomats: In February 2019, el-Rufai threatened European Union election observers with death if they intervened in Nigeria’s presidential elections, calling them “body bags” if they tried to interfere.
3. Genocide Allegations: El-Rufai was accused of contributing to the genocide of Southern Kaduna Christians, including admitting to paying killer herdsmen during his tenure as Governor.
4. Zaria Shiite Massacre: El-Rufai’s government was implicated in the Zaria Shiite massacre of December 12, 2015, where 438 people were killed in a major human rights violation.
5. Political Opponent Harassment: El-Rufai’s administration was criticized for demolishing the homes of political opponents, such as Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and Inuwa Abdulkadir, and destroying another critic’s home under false pretenses.
6. Reckless Utterances Against Christians: El-Rufai made derogatory statements about Christians, including insulting Jesus Christ in 2013 and claiming in 2019 that even if he brought the Pope, Christians would never vote for him.