A former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El Rufai has hinted that he will not go on exile despite rumours that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu may be planning to arrest and detain him over his criticism of the government.
El Rufai has faced off with the NSA since an activist, Najatu Muhammed accused of Ribadu of lacking integrity for serving in the government of President Bola Tinubu whom the NSA accused of being a corrupt politician when the NSA was the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ribadu had threatened to sue Ms Mohammed for causing him an “unquantifiable damage” in the social media video where the activist spoke about Ribadu and his boss, President Bola Tinubu.
FACTSHEET reported that the NSA through his lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN had demanded an apology an retraction of the video. However, as the back and forth argument progressed, former Governor Nasir El Rufai lashed out at Ribadu saying that NSA must be suffering from “amnesia” for denying ever accusing Bola Tinubu of corruption.
Speaking on his activities and perception of the current government both in Kaduna State and the Federal Government, El Rufai responded to a post by an X user Imran Wakili regarding a purported plan to arrest and detain him, the former Kaduna governor stated that such rumours have been circulating since July 2024, following a report by the Kaduna State Assembly that indicted him for misapplication of public funds and corruption.
The former governor wrote:
“I have now put all my previous academic and language-learning plans on hold and will spend more time in Nigeria than ever before. Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option,” El-Rufai posted.
“The arrest, detention, and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs. I have been arrested and detained thrice in the past for expressing my views on previous governments.
“There is always a morning after the arrest, detention, or torture, and political life continues. As for death, it comes when Allah destines it, and it is ultimately the fate of every human
“For the attention of the pathetic characters who don’t sleep well whenever I am in Nigeria, take notice that I intend to return in time for the launch of President IBB’s memoirs, in sha Allah, scheduled for February 20.
“We depend on no one but Allah. We fear no mortal but Almighty Allah. We always hope for the best but plan for the worst. Thanks, @IU_Wakilii, for your concern, but remember that what will be, will always be.