Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed circulating rumors about his alleged impending arrest, detention, and possible torture, stating that he remains unfazed by such threats.
In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, El-Rufai reaffirmed his commitment to staying in Nigeria despite alleged intimidation tactics aimed at forcing him into exile.
El-Rufai was responding to a post by a user, @IU_Wakilii, who raised concerns regarding speculations about his possible arrest. Addressing the issue, he wrote:
“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.”
The former governor suggested that certain individuals were unsettled by his decision to challenge what he described as “the legality of the premeditated defamation” contained in the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s report.
He alleged that efforts were being made to compromise the judicial process, stating, “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.”
El-Rufai further alleged that various forms of intimidation and threats had been directed at his friends, family, and political associates in an attempt to coerce him into self-imposed exile. However, he made it clear that such tactics would not succeed, asserting his intention to remain in Nigeria.
“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.”
According to him, he has decided to suspend all previous academic and language-learning plans to focus more on events in Nigeria. In his words:
“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 noted that arrests, detentions, and torture of political opponents were not new phenomena, adding that he had been detained multiple times in the past for speaking against previous administrations.
“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.”
Despite the speculations surrounding his safety, he maintained that political life would continue regardless of any arrests or detentions, stressing that death remains an inevitable event determined by divine will.
“There is always a morning after the arrest or detention or torture, and political life continues. As for death, it is when Allah destined it, and it is ultimately the fate of every human.”
Reaffirming his reliance on divine guidance, El-Rufai concluded his statement by emphasizing that he does not fear any mortal but Almighty Allah. He assured his supporters that whatever is destined to happen will unfold in due time.
“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.”
