Salihu Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed his belief that there is no valid reason why former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state shouldn’t be granted clearance to serve as a minister in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Lukman conveyed this viewpoint during an interview on Tuesday on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
In relation to Nasir El-Rufai’s delay in being confirmed as a ministerial nominee, Lukman dismissed it as a case of exaggerated political maneuvering.
Recalling the confirmation of 45 ministerial nominees on August 7 after a week-long screening, it’s noteworthy that the confirmation of the former Kaduna State governor, as well as Stella Okotete (Delta State) and Abubakar Danladi (Taraba State), was postponed due to ongoing security clearance procedures.
He said, “My personal opinion is that, again, politics is being overplayed. If other nominees are cleared, I don’t see any reason why Mallam Nasir will not be cleared.
“Sincerely speaking, the earlier we reduce political considerations in terms of the determination of decisions with respect to appointments, the better for the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lukman has expressed his dissatisfaction with Senator Abdullahi Ganduje’s selection as the National Chairman of the ruling APC.
Having previously foreshadowed his resignation the previous month, Lukman characterized the party’s decision to elect Ganduje as misguided.
In his resignation letter dated July 26, 2023, and directed to the then-acting APC National Chairman, Abubakar Kyari, Lukman elaborated that he preferred not to become a source of distraction to the new administration under President Bola Tinubu.
He said, “Dr Ganduje has emerged as the chairman of the party and I’m loyal; I respect it. But I disagree, it is not the right decision. That we’re living with a wrong decision is a different matter entirely.
“But as progressive politicians, we must have the commitment to continue to engage the issue such that we, collectively, are able to correct any wrong decision that has been taken.”
