Shehu Sani Fires Back at El-Rufai Over Nepotism Comments on NNPCL Appointment by Tinubu
Former senator Shehu Sani has sharply criticized Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, for his recent remarks on alleged nepotism within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) under President Bola Tinubu.
El-Rufai shared a post from Farooq Kperogi, a US-based Nigerian professor of journalism, who accused President Tinubu of governing with a “Lagos mindset” and criticized his appointment choices, particularly within the NNPCL. Kperogi compared the situation to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged favoritism toward northerners in security appointments.
El-Rufai, in sharing Kperogi’s post on his social media platform, added, “Two wrongs don’t make a right,” emphasizing that inclusive appointments are preferable to exclusionary practices.
However, Shehu Sani quickly responded, calling out El-Rufai’s stance. In a tweet, Sani remarked, “There were those who were silent when Buhari filled political offices with his kinsmen, but now they’ve found their voice because the tables have turned.”
He further criticized El-Rufai’s hypocrisy, stating, “Let’s not forget the nepotism that marginalized Southern Kaduna for eight years. Kaduna was effectively an apartheid state during El-Rufai’s tenure.”
Sani concluded that while anyone is free to critique President Tinubu over accusations of biased appointments, El-Rufai was the last person qualified to do so.
