El-Rufai Should Sign Undertaking Not To Make Religious Comments As Minister – Okupe

The former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe has asked the Senate to confirm the ministerial nomination of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

Naija News recalls that the Senate screened and confirmed 45 out of 48 ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly.

The three nominees not confirmed by the Senate are El-Rufai, Senator Abubakar Danladi from Taraba State, and Stella Okotete from Delta State.

In a series of tweets via his Twitter handle on Wednesday, Okupe said El-Rufai has the competence and immense capacity to perform as a minister even though he is radical with his statements and has demonstrated religious extremism.

Okupe called on the Senate to reconsider their decision to drop the former governor because he has the capacity to address the problems facing the power sector if he is appointed as the Minister of Power.

The LP chieftain asked the Senate to rather subject El-Rufai to signing an undertaking that will stop him from making religious and inciting comments 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.”