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Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s adviser, has told ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai to stop dwelling on his exclusion from the cabinet. He dismissed El-Rufai’s claims, saying the president holds no grudges. Onanuga urged him to move on, emphasizing that Tinubu’s administration is focused on governance.

Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga has urged former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to stop dwelling on his exclusion from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, saying it is time to move forward.

Speaking in an interview on Channels TV, Onanuga addressed El-Rufai’s recent claims that President Tinubu personally blocked his ministerial appointment despite initially inviting him to join the administration. He noted that while El-Rufai may feel hurt over the decision, his continued complaints suggest he is refusing to let go.

“He cannot keep behaving like a child who had his toy taken away,” Onanuga remarked. He acknowledged El-Rufai’s contributions to Tinubu’s election victory but emphasized that being left out of the cabinet does not mean he has been sidelined from national development.

El-Rufai had previously stated that it was Tinubu, not the National Assembly, who ultimately decided against his ministerial nomination. This revelation has sparked debates within political circles, with some viewing it as a sign of internal rifts within the administration.

Onanuga, however, dismissed the notion of any animosity between the president and the former governor. He stressed that Tinubu’s government is focused on tackling national challenges and making improvements despite inheriting economic and structural difficulties.

He urged El-Rufai to move on rather than dwell on past disappointments, stating that the administration remains open to contributions from all well-meaning Nigerians.