Socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has accused President Bola Tinubu of deliberately sidelining former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to make him politically irrelevant.

Yesufu said that despite reports by the Department of State Services (DSS) implicating El-Rufai, the Senate could have confirmed him as Minister. She claimed Tinubu’s action was aimed at humiliating the former governor rather than addressing any legal issues.

Reacting to a comment by Arise Television anchor, Rufai Oseni, on DSS’ screening of Uche Nnaji, former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Yesufu wrote:

“Nasir El-Rufai’s case is that Tinubu wanted to humiliate him. DSS excuse was just that, excuse. Even if DSS had found him wanting, with the National Assembly deeply in Tinubu’s pocket, he could have commanded their confirmation.”

She added that even after the Senate declined to confirm El-Rufai, Tinubu could have appointed him to a role that did not require confirmation or made him a powerful ally, similar to Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura. Instead, El-Rufai was left politically isolated.

“Tinubu wants El-Rufai to be politically irrelevant, and El-Rufai needs Tinubu out of office in 2027 to regain his political credibility,” Yesufu concluded.

Her comments come in the wake of the resignation of Uche Nnaji over alleged certificate forgery.