By Ihechi Enyinnaya
Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has firmly stated that he will not go into exile despite rumors that the Bola Tinubu administration plans to arrest and potentially torture him.
El-Rufai, who has been in a public war of words with the presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), made it clear that he would not be intimidated by the current government.
In response to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by user Imran Wakili regarding the alleged plot to arrest him, El-Rufai vowed to return to Nigeria from Egypt before February 20, 2025.
“I have been hearing these same rumors of arrest, detention, and torture in some dungeon at the NSA’s office since July 2024, when the so-called report from the Kaduna Assembly began circulating,” El-Rufai said. “They panicked when we challenged the legality of their defamation, and they have gone to great lengths to compromise the judicial process.”
El-Rufai added that he had received intimidation messages through friends, family, and political associates in a bid to push him into self-imposed exile. He reaffirmed that he would not give in to such pressures.
“I have put all my previous plans for academics and language learning on hold,” El-Rufai continued. “I will spend more time in Nigeria than ever before. Silence is no longer golden, and inaction is never an option.”
The former governor also reflected on his previous experiences with arrest and detention, stating that he had been detained three times for expressing his views against previous governments.
“Arrest, detention, and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new. There’s always a morning after. And as for death, it is when Allah destines it,” he said.
El-Rufai’s defiance continued, as he announced his intention to return to Nigeria in time for the launch of former military leader Ibrahim Babangida’s memoirs on February 20. “We depend on no one but Allah. We fear no mortal but Almighty Allah,” he declared.
El-Rufai, a key northern figure who initially supported Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid, has experienced a significant shift in his political standing. Alongside his northern colleagues, El-Rufai backed Tinubu’s candidacy against other APC heavyweights in the run-up to the 2023 election. His support helped Tinubu clinch the