Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna, has alleged that there are plans to arrest him, suggesting that his enemies want to force him into exile.
El-Rufai, who has been engaged in public criticisms of his successor, Governor Uba Sani and President Bola Tinubu’s administration, recently criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a “national emergency.”
In a post on X on Tuesday, the ex-governor, currently in Egypt, responded to claims of an alleged plot to detain him.
He said, “I have been hearing these same rumors of arrest, detention and torture in some dungeon in the NSA’s office (where Emefiele was allegedly tortured to resign as CBN governor), since July 2024 when the so-called report of the Kaduna Assembly began circulating.
Read also: El-Rufai dismisses claims of opposing Tinubu
“They freaked out when we challenged the legality of the premeditated defamation, and went to every length to compromise the judicial process, and this is continuing at the Court of Appeal.
“They have sent such similar messages of intimidation and threats through many of my friends, family and political associates because they want me to go on self-imposed exile. I will not.”
The former governor said he has put all his learning plans on hold to spend more time in Nigeria, adding that silence is no longer golden.
He said, “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.
“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 of previous governments.”
El-Rufai further stated that he intends to be back in Nigeria in time for the launch of former President Ibrahim Babangida’s memoirs on February 20.
“For the attention of the pathetic characters that don’t sleep well whenever I am in Nigeria, take notice that I intend to return in time for the launch of Pres IBB’s memoirs, in sha Allah, scheduled for 20th February.
“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,” he stated.
El-Rufai, who worked vehemently for Tinubu’s emergence, fell out with the president after the Senate failed to clear him for a ministerial position, citing security concerns.
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