Nasir El-Rufai Defies Intimidation Amidst Alleged Threats and Political Pressure
Cairo, Egypt — Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has publicly addressed persistent rumours regarding his alleged impending arrest, detention, and possible torture. In a strongly worded statement released from Cairo, El-Rufai dismissed the threats as politically motivated attempts to force him into self-imposed exile, vowing instead to intensify his presence in Nigeria.
El-Rufai revealed that such rumours have been circulating since July 2024, coinciding with the release of the Kaduna Assembly’s controversial report. “They panicked when we challenged the legality of their premeditated defamation and have gone to great lengths to compromise the judicial process, a trend that continues even at the Court of Appeal,” he stated.
According to El-Rufai, these intimidation tactics have extended beyond direct threats, reaching his friends, family, and political allies. However, he firmly rejected any notion of fleeing the country. “I will not. 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.”
Reflecting on his past experiences, El-Rufai noted that political persecution is not unfamiliar territory for him. “I have been arrested and detained three times for expressing my views on previous governments. There is always a morning after the arrest, detention, or torture, and political life continues,” he remarked, adding that the inevitability of death rests solely in the hands of Allah.
In a pointed message to those he described as “pathetic characters” unsettled by his presence in Nigeria, El-Rufai announced his intention to return in time for the scheduled launch of former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s memoirs on 20th February, God willing.
“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 concluded, expressing gratitude to supporters concerned about his safety.
El-Rufai’s defiant stance signals his readiness to confront political challenges head-on, reaffirming his commitment to active participation in Nigeria’s political landscape despite mounting pressures.
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