El-Rufai Slams Tinubu’s Cabinet as Incompetent, Says He Regrets Supporting Him

Former Kaduna State Governor and ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, describing it as lacking competence and filled with underperformers.

Speaking during a political programme on Arise News on Monday, El-Rufai expressed disappointment in what he called a “bloated and substandard” team, saying it falls far short of expectations.

“Look at his cabinet—it’s a joke. It is the largest in Nigeria’s history, and maybe only five of them can be called real ministers,” he said. “In my time as a minister 20 years ago, we had people like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Oby Ezekwesili. Who in this cabinet matches that calibre? There is simply no quality. We’ve brought a tragedy upon Nigeria.”

El-Rufai revealed that he had supported Tinubu in the 2023 election because of the president’s past record as Lagos State governor, where he ran what El-Rufai described as an inclusive and technocratic government.

“I believed in his Lagos legacy. He brought in professionals like Yemi Osinbajo and Wale Edun from the private sector. He appointed Igbos, Hausas, and others to key roles and got things done. But now… this?” he said.

Expressing regret, El-Rufai admitted that he shares in the responsibility for what he now views as a failed administration.

“I feel like I owe Nigeria a duty to correct this mistake. I’m 65 now, nearing retirement, but I cannot rest knowing that I helped bring in a government that is hurting Nigerians. I will do all I can, with others, to reverse this trajectory. If we leave this unchecked, Nigeria will be destroyed,” he declared.

He also addressed the nature of his relationship with President Tinubu, revealing that they were never personally close. According to him, his loyalty lay with former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I was never close to Tinubu. In the party, I was a ‘Buhari boy,’ and he had his own people. The person I really connected with was Baba Bisi Akande — I served as his deputy national secretary,” El-Rufai said. “Tinubu never liked me, but when he won the ticket, I put aside personal differences and worked hard to deliver Kaduna for him. That was my duty as a party man.”