Tinubu: I pity you, you’re hurt over ministerial rejection – Presidency replies El-Rufai

The Presidency on Tuesday said former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai feels hurt over his exclusion from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said it is time for El-Rufai to move on and stop behaving like a child crying over spilled milk.

He was reacting to El-Rufai’s remark that Tinubu rejected him, not the National Assembly, despite begging him to become a minister in his cabinet.

The former governor made the allegation while featuring on Arise Television on Monday evening.

However, Onanuga said El-Rufai’s reaction is natural after being rejected as a minister.

In an interview with Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Onanuga said: “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. I think it is time for him to move on. He can’t continue to behave like a child, as if somebody stole his bread and he is crying.

“It’s natural for him to feel hurt about being excluded, and the president acknowledged in his birthday message that Nasir helped a lot in installing Tinubu. If he’s not there, it doesn’t mean he should bring down the roof.

“The president has no animosity against Nasir. He naturally feels hurt that he has been excluded, so he goes about campaigning against the president and would not let go.

“He should forget about not being made a minister. He has been in public service since 1999; it’s time for him to move on.”