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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, has warned the former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, amid the ongoing feud with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Yakubu condemned El-Rufai’s attempts to divert attention from his alleged misdeeds during his tenure as governor, saying, “El-Rufai should not mistake President Bola Tinubu’s tolerance and patience for weakness. The days of impunity are over and accountability will catch up with him.”
In a statement yesterday, the convener of the group emphasized that el-Rufai’s allegations against Ribadu were a desperate attempt to distract from his own questionable records, adding “Kaduna people will not be swayed by his diversion tactics. He must face the music and answer for his actions.
“We believe that opposition, objective opposition, is what is required in our country, not opposition laced with hatred. From the way el-rufai has been, in every of his criticism, from the way he has been mentioning the NSA, it shows that there is a deep-rooted hatred, which is not good for our polity. If he doesn’t get what he wants, it’s not proper for him to bring down the roof. If everybody does that, we will not have a country again,” the statement added.
He urged el-Rufai to desist from politicising national security, and instead, focus on clearing his name, saying, “The people of Kaduna demand justice and accountability. El-Rufai should not test the patience of the Tinubu administration.”
The statement came as tensions escalated between el-Rufai and Ribadu, with the former governor accusing the NSA of plotting against him.
The warning underscores the growing pressure on el-Rufai to address allegations of corruption and mismanagement during his tenure as governor.
Also, Arewa Think Tank has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government’s decision to file cybercrime charges against el-Rufai, over alleged unlawful interception of Ribadu’s phone communications.
He condemned el-Rufai’s actions, saying they undermine national security and compromise the integrity of the NSA’s office.
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“El-Rufai’s admission to tapping Ribadu’s phone is a serious breach of national security protocol and a threat to Nigeria’s stability,” Yakubu said.
The charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accused El-Rufai of unlawfully intercepting Ribadu’s phone communications, failing to report the incident to security agencies and compromising public safety and national security.
El-Rufai’s comments sparked widespread criticism, with security experts warning that unauthorised interception of the NSA’s communications could have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s sovereignty and stability.
“El-Rufai’s politics of bitterness and blame-game won’t work,” said Yakubu, “His tantrums and verbal attacks on President Tinubu are a sign of weakness, not strength.”
The group noted that el-Rufai’s criticism of Tinubu’s government is a case of “the pot calling the kettle black,” given his own administration’s record in Kaduna.
“He governed Kaduna with an iron fist, brooking no opposition and demolishing properties with impunity,” Yakubu said. “Now, he’s gallivanting across the political space, threatening hell and brimstone. It’s laughable.”
The group emphasised that Tinubu’s silence is not indifference but strategy. “You don’t wrestle with a man drowning in his own noise. You let the water finish its work,” he said.
The group also condemned el-Rufai’s attempts to shift blame onto others, saying he’s responsible for his own downfall. “El-Rufai’s career is littered with bridges he burned and people he wronged. He’s reaping what he sowed,” he added.
The group urged the government to ensure a thorough investigation and prosecution of el-Rufai, emphasising that no one is above the law.
