I Won’t Go On Exile Despite Tinubu’s Alleged Plans To Arrest And Detain Me – El-Rufai

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai has dismissed speculation that he plans to go into exile, despite widespread rumors that the Bola Tinubu administration may arrest or detain him.

El-Rufai, who has been at odds with the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC, insisted he would not be intimidated.

Reacting to a post by X user, Imran Wakili about an alleged plan to arrest and torture him, the former governor confirmed that he would return from Egypt before February 20, 2025.

According to him, certain people became anxious when he challenged the legality of the accusations against him, leading them to allegedly manipulate the judicial process.

He emphasized that he had put aside previous academic and language-learning plans to spend more time in Nigeria, stating that silence was no longer an option.

Nasir El-Rufai acknowledged that political arrests and detentions were nothing new, recalling that he had been detained three times in the past for expressing his views.

He said, “I have been hearing these same rumours 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.

“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.

“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.

“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 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.”

DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY. WHAT WILL BE WILL BE:

Dear Imran @IU_Wakilii

Your post below refers. 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… https://t.co/wrvlL6nqpM

— Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (@elrufai) February 11, 2025

KanyiDaily recalls that Nasir El-Rufai insisted that he would still criticize the ruling APC even if he were serving as a minister in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.