President Bola Tinubu has dropped former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai as ministerial nominee, replacing him with Abbas Balarabe.
The replacement was conveyed in a letter read by the Senate President GodsWill Akpabio, at the plenary on Tuesday.
Last August, the Senate had declined approval for the nomination of El-Rufai on security grounds.
Balarabe’s name was read alongside those of Dr. Jamila Ibrahaim and Mr. Ayodele Olawande, whose nomination by the President as Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths respectively had earlier been announced.
After the screening exercise in August, which stretched for about a week, the Senate approved and confirmed 45 out of the 48 nominees sent by President Tinubu.
A couple of petitions, including those sent by Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) were presented against the former governor during the screening.
After El-Rufai’s presentations, Karim told his colleagues that he had a petition written against the former governor over insecurity in Southern Kaduna.
He said: “Your performance in any office you find yourself in the country has been outstanding. In the Bureau of Public Enterprises, your record is there, in FCT as a minister, your record is there, and as two-time governor of Kaduna state, you did well”.
Waiving a brown envelope, Karimi further said: “But, I have a very strong petition against you that borders on security, unity, and cohesiveness of the Nigerian nation.
“And I think that the petition has to be considered in this screening exercise”.
Karimi then proceeded to lay the petition before Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who was presiding over the screening exercise at the time.
Barau said: “I don’t know if you followed the normal process, but this is the opportunity for nominees to explain and showcase themselves, later we will come to confirmation and approval”.
Some other Senators commended El-Rufai, noting that the former governor is competent enough to be a minister.
Also, Senator Ibrahim Kalid-Mustapha (PDP Kaduna North) said he and his two colleagues from the state, as well as all the residents, are in support of El-Rufai’s nomination as minister.
Later at plenary, the Senate President refused to accept the petition and said a number of petitions were submitted against a number of the ministerial nominees.
