The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai,
has alleged a government plot to arrest, detain, and torture him similarly to
the treatment of former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele. El-Rufai made
these claims on Tuesday while responding to concerns raised by a supporter,
Imran U. Wakili, on his verified X handle.
El-Rufai, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC), stated that he had received messages through relatives warning
of a plan to detain him at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu
Ribadu, due to his vocal criticism of the government.
“I have been hearing these same rumours of arrest,
detention, and torture in some dungeon in the NSA’s office since July 2024 when
the so-called report of the Kaduna Assembly began circulating,” El-Rufai wrote.
He further claimed that the government was trying to intimidate him into
self-imposed exile, a move he strongly rejected.
According to him, efforts to silence him have included legal challenges and threats directed at his friends, family, and political associates. Despite these pressures, El-Rufai affirmed his resolve to remain in Nigeria, stating, “Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option.” He emphasized that he had been arrested and detained three times in the past for criticizing governments and remained unafraid of potential repercussions.
El-Rufai also announced that he would be in Nigeria more
frequently, pausing his academic and language-learning plans. He dismissed
fears of detention or death, declaring that “political life continues” after
such ordeals and that ultimate destiny lies in Allah’s hands.
He specifically addressed individuals troubled by his
presence in Nigeria, asserting that he would return by February 20, stating,
“We fear no mortal but Almighty Allah. We always hope for the best but plan for
the worst.”
El-Rufai, who was denied a ministerial appointment in
President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet over alleged security concerns, has recently
been an outspoken critic of the Federal Government. Additionally, he has
clashed with Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani over allegations of financial
mismanagement against appointees from his administration.
Speaking at a democracy conference in Abuja, El-Rufai
described governance and opposition politics in Nigeria as a “national
emergency,” urging opposition parties to form a broad coalition against the
ruling APC. His remarks sparked a response from Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser
to the President on Policy Communication, who questioned whether El-Rufai would
have spoken out if he had been appointed a minister.
El-Rufai also entered a dispute involving PDP chieftain
Naj’atu Muhammad and NSA Nuhu Ribadu regarding past corruption allegations
against President Tinubu. He accused Ribadu of suffering from “serious amnesia”
for denying previous statements made in the Senate and media reports regarding
Tinubu.
Both El-Rufai and Ribadu served in the administration of
former President Olusegun Obasanjo—Ribadu as Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and El-Rufai as Chairman of the Bureau of
Public Enterprises and later as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
In his post on X, El-Rufai reiterated that the arrest,
detention, and torture of perceived political enemies were common in history
and reaffirmed his determination to remain active in Nigeria’s political
landscape.
