Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai is sweating over the prospect of seeing his confirmation as a minister across the finishing line as several top Islamic Groups in the country have warned President Bola Tinubu not to swear him in as one of his ministers even if the Senate approves him for an appointment.
There are several petitions and personal appeals being made to the president to ensure that the former FCT Minister is not confirmed and appointed as a Minister.
Recall that El-Rufai was among the 28 ministerial nominees the president had sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation in the first.
However, the Senate, under the leadership of Godswill Akpabio had stalled El-Rufai’s ministerial confirmation.
His ordeal before the Senate began when several senators wanted him to address several far-reaching petitions against him.
The petitions borders on “national security, human rights abuses and dangerous extreme religious views,” some of which came from Islamic groups, are too “heavy to overlook.”
Supporting the stance of the Senate, some Islamic groups such as Quranic Memorisers and Reciters urged the President not to swear in the former governor.
According to Sheikh Sidi Aliyu Sise, the Director of Education, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation, who spoke for the coalition, El-rufa’i oppressed Almajirai under his leadership when he was a governor hence he is not fit to be a minister.
“We demand for justice as a result of injustice, harassment, trauma, and difficulties encountered by our disciples, teachers and many Qur’anic scholars, when he evacuated our innocent pupils from the House of Maulana Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi in Kaduna to unknown destination,” he said.
He warned that should the president swear in the former governor as a minister, he has expressed his support for injustice.
There are also reports that several other groups within the Muslim community have also reached out to the president just as they petitioned the Senate to ensure El-Rufai does not get the nod to be sworn in as a minister.