Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has hit back at former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of acting like a “hurt child” after being denied a ministerial position in Tinubu’s administration.
El-Rufai, who has been vocal in his criticism of Tinubu’s government, claimed during an interview on ARISE TV that the president personally blocked his ministerial appointment, contrary to reports that the National Assembly was responsible. “The National Assembly had nothing to do with it. The president didn’t want me in his cabinet,” El-Rufai stated.
Reacting on Tuesday during an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily, Onanuga dismissed El-Rufai’s grievances, suggesting that he was bitter over his exclusion from the government. “As a person, I think I will pity former Governor Nasir El-Rufai. He feels hurt that he was not made a minister. I think it is time for him to move on,” Onanuga said.
He went further to mock El-Rufai’s reaction, likening it to a child throwing a tantrum. “You cannot continue to behave like a child, as if somebody stole your bread and then you’re crying over spilled milk,” he remarked.
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Onanuga acknowledged El-Rufai’s role in Tinubu’s victory, noting that the former governor played a crucial part in securing the presidency. However, he emphasized that exclusion from the Federal Government should not warrant attempts to undermine the administration. “As the president acknowledged in a recent birthday tribute, Nasiru helped a lot in installing President Tinubu. But if he’s not in government, does that mean he must bring down the roof?” he questioned.
The presidential aide insisted that Tinubu harbours no grudges against El-Rufai and dismissed the former governor’s recent criticism of the administration as baseless. He argued that the government inherited numerous challenges but is steadily making progress.
