Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has called on former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to let go of his lingering resentment over not being appointed a minister in the current administration.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Onanuga expressed sympathy for El-Rufai, suggesting that the former governor’s recent public statements reflect a personal sense of hurt rather than a broader political stance.
“As a person, I think I will pity the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai. He feels hurt that he was not made a minister,” Onanuga remarked. “I think it is time for him to move on.”
The presidential aide’s comments come in the wake of El-Rufai’s appearance on Arise TV on February 24, where he openly critiqued Tinubu’s administration, including its economic policies and party leadership, while clarifying that his exclusion from the cabinet stemmed from the President’s decision, not a Senate rejection.
Onanuga framed El-Rufai’s outspokenness as a reaction to his dashed ministerial hopes, pointing to the Senate’s 2023 decision to withhold confirmation due to security concerns as a settled matter.
“He’s had his time in public service, and we respect his contributions, but it’s clear he’s struggling to accept that chapter’s closure,” Onanuga said.
He urged El-Rufai to channel his energy elsewhere, emphasizing that the administration remains focused on its Renewed Hope agenda despite such distractions.
Onanuga’s remarks show a growing tension between El-Rufai and Tinubu’s camp, especially after the former governor’s claims that the President had initially sought his support and promised a role, only to later change his mind.
Onanuga dismissed any suggestion of a deeper rift, insisting that El-Rufai’s critiques are personal rather than indicative of systemic issues within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“If he has advice, he knows the channels to reach the President privately,” Onanuga added, subtly rebuking El-Rufai’s choice of a public platform.
