‘Real reason El-Rufai couldn’t become Tinubu’s minister’

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, has revealed why El-Rufai could not make Tinubu’s cabinet.

The minister in an interview with Premium Times said the National Assembly is the reason El-Rufai couldn’t make the president’s cabinet and Tinubu should not be blamed for that.

Mr Bagudu stated that President Tinubu has shown “character and promise keeping” by nominating Mr El-Rufai to be a minister in his cabinet but the National Assembly as an institution withheld his confirmation.

“Constitutional democracy is based on separation of powers.

“The Senate has been given a constitutional role in the confirmation process. If they decide to deny any one of us, they are approving their confirmation power.

“The president is handicapped by our constitution to do everything. Is it fair? But that is how the laws have been set up.

“I wish the National Assembly had confirmed him.

When asked why Mr Tinubu did not intervene or lobby the National Assembly to confirm Mr El-Rufai, Mr Bagudu said he would not want to speculate.

“What was done objectively is that the president nominated him. We know that his name was read at the Senate. He went to the National Assembly for screening. He answered all the questions that were asked of him. Although some were stepped down.

“So that’s an objective way to look at it. That is what happened. I can’t answer speculatively, but I believe for the president to submit your name, for you at least to be taken to the National assembly, it’s the best measure of the president’s willingness and confidence in the person,” he said.