By Mike Odeh James, Kaduna.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed concerns regarding rumors of a possible arrest and detention, asserting that he has no plans to go into exile. In a post on X on Tuesday, El-Rufai revealed that he believes his adversaries are attempting to force him out of the country.
Currently residing in Egypt, El-Rufai responded to a loyal supporter, Imran Wakili, regarding the alleged plot against him. He stated his intention to return to Nigeria before February 20, emphasizing, “I will spend more time in Nigeria than ever before.”
El-Rufai claimed to have received intimidation and threats through friends, family, and political associates aimed at coercing him into self-imposed exile. “Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option,” he declared, reiterating his commitment to political engagement despite past experiences of arrest and detention for expressing dissenting views.
Reflecting on the nature of political strife, he remarked, “The arrest, detention, and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs,” and stressed that political life continues beyond such challenges. He affirmed his intention to return for the launch of former President Ibrahim Babangida’s memoirs, scheduled for February 20, stating, “We depend on no one but Allah. We fear no mortal but Almighty Allah.”
El-Rufai’s statements come amid ongoing tensions with supporters of President Bola Tinubu and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the former governor recently criticizing the party for lacking internal democracy, highlighting the absence of meetings among its governing organs for the past two years.
