El-Rufai says he will defy talk of his planned arrest and return to Nigerian by Feb 20

FORMER Kaduna State governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has expressed fears that he may be arrested and detained by the Nigerian security authorities over his recent criticism of the federal government and the policies of President Bola Tinubu.

Between 2015 and 2023 Mallam El-Rufai served as the Kaduna State governor, having already been a minister in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. President Tinubu had nominated Mallam El-Rufai for a ministerial appointment in 2023 but there was so much opposition to his appointment in the National Assembly that he had to withdraw from the process.

Over recent weeks, Mallam El-Rufai accused President Tinubu's government of abandoning the campaign promises of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). To make matters worse, Mallam El-Rufai then teamed up with former vice president Atiku Abubakar and one-time transport minister Rotimi Amaechi, in calling for the opposition to remove President Tinubu from office.

Many members of the APC, including Mallam El-Rufai's hand-picked successor as Kaduna State governor Sani Uba, have condemned his attacks. However Mallam El-Rufai has dismissed these critics as Nollywood actors, saying that he acted out of principle rather than personal gain.

Mallam El-Rufai said: “We did what we did for God, country, and party, expecting nothing in return. What is unfolding is merely another life experience and part of human nature. We have moved on but their conscience won’t let them sleep well."

Taking to social media earlier today, the former governor said he has heard rumours of plans to arrest him but assured his supporters that he has no plans to go into exile. Currently visiting Egypt, Mallam El-Rufai said he plans to return to Nigeria before February 20 and dismissed plans by his adversaries to force him out of the country.

Mallam El-Rufai added: “I will spend more time in Nigeria than ever before. 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.

“I have now put all my previous academic and language-learning plans on hold. 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 about previous governments.

“There is always a morning after the arrest or detention or torture and political life continues. As for death, it is when Allah destines it and it is ultimately the date of every human. 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 President IBB’s memoirs, in sha Allah, scheduled for 20th February."

Mallam El-Rufai recently accused the APC of lacking internal democracy, citing the fact that the party’s organs have not met in the past two years. He has accused the authorities of attempting to silence him through judicial and political pressure, claiming that threats had been conveyed to him through friends, family and political associates.