Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday served notice to Nigerians about an impending onslaught being planned to welcome him into the country on his return from his present foreign trip, which would include arrest and torture in the alleged dungeon of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
El-Rufai, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023, alleged that the same reception being planned for him, was the same that was served Godwin Emefiele, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), that forced him to resign his position.
The former governor raised the alarm through an X platform, where he also sounded defiant, stating that regardless of the obvious doom awaiting him, he would still return to the country to face it rather that fleeing permanently on exile, which he claimed was the actual aim of his traducers.
Though he did not name names, El-Rufai, who has been a major critic of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), in recent weeks, wrote: “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 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 when Allah destines it, and it is ultimate 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.”
“Thank you @U_Wakilii for your concern, but remember that what will be, will always be.