El-Rufai speaks on alleged plot to arrest him

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has reacted to reports of a possible plot to arrest him, stating that he has received multiple messages warning him of an impending crackdown.

El-Rufai, who has been embroiled in a war of words with some members of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claimed that his critics are attempting to force him into self-imposed exile. The tension escalated after the ex-governor openly criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he described as a deviation from its core values.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, El-Rufai confirmed he is currently in Egypt but assured his supporters that he would return to Nigeria before February 20. “They have sent 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,” he wrote. “Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option. I have been arrested and detained three times in the past for expressing my views on previous governments. The arrest, detention, and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs.”

El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reaffirmed his commitment to speaking out against the government, insisting that he would be present in Nigeria for the launch of former President Ibrahim Babangida’s memoirs on February 20;

“For those who don’t sleep well whenever I am in Nigeria, take notice that I intend to return for the launch of President IBB’s memoirs, in sha Allah, scheduled for February 20.”

The former governor, who was initially nominated for a ministerial position in August 2023, saw his confirmation withheld by the Senate, citing security concerns. Since then, he has become one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu-led government.

Despite the reported threats, El-Rufai maintained his defiance, stating:
“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.”