President Bola Tinubu has made a significant ministerial nomination change, replacing Mallam Nasir El-Rufai with Balarabe Abbas from Kaduna State. This development was announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio when he read a letter from the president on Tuesday.
The letter sought the confirmation of three nominees: Abbas, Jamila Bio, and Olawale Olawande. While Bio and Olawande have been assigned portfolios of Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths, Abbas's specific portfolio remains undisclosed.
Balarabe Abbas has previously served as the Secretary to the State government under El-Rufai's administration. He also led the transition committee of the state in 2015 and served as the vice-chairman of the committee in 2019. Additionally, Abbas led a 65-man transition committee for the swearing-in of Governor Uba Sani in 2023.
El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was initially one of the 48 persons nominated by President Tinubu as ministers in July. However, his nomination faced obstacles during the screening process in the Senate, leading to his withdrawal from ministerial consideration and his departure from the country.
This unexpected change in the list of ministerial nominees has raised questions and garnered attention within political circles and the public.
