“I Will Spend More Time in Nigeria Than Ever Before” – El-Rufai Dares FG on Arrest Rumors

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai has dismissed speculation about his possible arrest, stating that he will not go into exile despite alleged threats against him.

El-Rufai, who has been engaged in a public dispute with some members of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, claims he has received warnings about an impending arrest. The disagreement escalated after the ex-governor criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for deviating from its founding principles.

In a post on X on Tuesday, el-Rufai said his opponents aim to force him out of Nigeria. Responding to an X user, Imran Wakili, who referenced the alleged plot, he confirmed that he is currently in Egypt but plans to return before February 20.

“They have sent similar messages of intimidation and threats through my friends, family, and political associates because they want me to go on self-imposed exile,” he wrote. “I will spend more time in Nigeria than ever before.”

El-Rufai emphasized that he has faced arrests and detentions in the past for expressing his views but remains undeterred. He added that political persecution is not new and insisted that he would not be silenced.

“For those who don’t sleep well whenever I am in Nigeria, take notice that I intend to return in time for the launch of President IBB’s memoirs on February 20, in sha Allah,” he stated.

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration. He was initially nominated for a ministerial position in 2023, but the Senate withheld his confirmation, citing security concerns.