A senior political aide to former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration prolonged the detention of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai for political reasons.
Demola Olarenwaju, in a statement on the social media platform X, claimed El-Rufai’s release from several weeks of detention could have occurred sooner but was intentionally delayed to weaken opposition figures. He specified that the former governor was held by Nigeria’s secret police (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) as authorities sought evidence to prosecute him.
“El-Rufai could have been released long before now but Tinubu’s desperate attempt to cripple opposition forces and Ribadu’s desperate desire to clear future rivals is why APC kept him from DSS to EFCC to ICPC detention while they’re all still looking for evidence to indict him,” Olarenwaju wrote, referencing national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Olarenwaju also criticized the timing of El-Rufai’s release, which followed the death of his mother. “That it took the death of El-Rufai’s mother for him to be released from political detention is a bitter irony because perhaps she may yet be alive if Tinubu and Ribadu did not decide to punish her son politically,” he stated.
The aide concluded by framing the episode as a precursor to a potential second term for President Tinubu. “We are seeing future glimpses of a Tinubu 2nd term already,” he warned.
El-Rufai, a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was detained for several weeks in June after losing his constitutional immunity from prosecution upon leaving office. The specific charges or allegations prompting his prolonged interrogation by multiple agencies have not been publicly disclosed by the government. The presidency and the national security adviser’s office have not commented on Olarenwaju’s allegations.
The accusation highlights the persistent political tensions in Nigeria and raises questions about the use of state agencies against opposition figures. Observers note that the case may set a precedent for political engagement in the country’s evolving democratic landscape.
