Okupe begs NASS to confirm El-Rufai as minister
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Doyin Okupe
Mr Doyin Okupe, former director-general of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, has made a passionate appeal to the National Assembly to confirm Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State as minister-designate.
The Senate had confirmed 45 out of 48 ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu but the red carpet chamber refused to confirm Mr El-Rufai, Abubakar Danladi and Stella Okotete over “security issues”.
While reacting over the development, Okupe described Mr El-Rufai as a radical whose competence could not be in doubt.
Writing on his X handle on Wednesday, Mr Okupe added that the Senate should rather subject him to signing an undertaking to refrain from making statements on religion while in office.
He said, “The Nigerian Senate should reconsider their decision to drop former Governor El Rufai from the ministerial list.
“I am not a fan of Mallam El-Rufai who I consider to be a radical of some sort and who have in recent past demonstrated some traits of religious extremism.
“Still, very few people will doubt El Rufai’s competence and immense capacity to perform.
“If it is true that he is being considered for the power ministry, I don’t think we should cut our noses to spite or faces.
“The Senate may insist on an undertaking from him before his confirmation that while in office as minister, he will refrain from making any comments or remarks on religion.
“The power ministry is extremely important in our economy and in our serious efforts to combat poverty.
“If any Nigerian can fix our energy problems, former Governor El Rufai is certainly one of such people”.
