Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Germany, Femi Fani-Kayode, has offered a different account of why former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai failed to secure a ministerial position in the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.
Fani-Kayode said the rejection of El-Rufai’s nomination by the Senate followed a series of petitions submitted to the Department of State Services (DSS) by religious and community groups from Kaduna State.
In a commentary published in The Nation, the former aviation minister argued that contrary to widespread speculation, the development had nothing to do with an alleged political conspiracy involving top government officials.
According to him, El-Rufai’s nomination “was not rejected as a consequence of the implementation of some far-fetched and illusionary conspiracy supposedly woven against him by the National Security Advisor, the Governor of Kaduna State, the Vice President and the President”.
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Instead, he said members of the Shiite Muslim community, Tijaniya Muslims and Christian groups from Kaduna submitted complaints to security authorities detailing alleged violations committed during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor.
“These petitions were so alarming that they could not be ignored, and that is why his nomination as minister was rejected by the Senate,” Fani-Kayode said.
He dismissed claims that the former governor was a victim of political persecution, insisting that such narratives lacked credibility.
“If President Tinubu did not want him to be a minister, he would not have been nominated in the first place,” he said.
Fani-Kayode also linked El-Rufai’s current legal troubles to what he described as the consequences of decisions taken during his time in public office.
The former governor is currently facing legal proceedings and is reported to be in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations including money laundering, diversion of public funds and phone-tapping claims involving the National Security Adviser.
In the article, Fani-Kayode criticised several policies and actions attributed to El-Rufai during his tenure as governor and earlier as minister of the Federal Capital Territory, including large-scale demolitions of buildings and settlements.
“I also forgot to mention the fact that he knocked down many orphanages in Kaduna when he was Governor and that one of the last things he did whilst in office, which he ruthlessly, chillingly and cold-bloodedly carried out the day before handing over power to Governor Uba Sani, was knock down an orphanage at Fadama Badan Dodo in Zaria.
“The worst aspect of this dastardly act was the fact that it took place at 1.00am in the morning and without a court order!”
The former minister claimed that residents had alleged that several demolitions occurred despite existing court directives restraining the actions, adding that some affected buildings were legitimate residences.
He further described criticism of the demolitions as justified, arguing that the actions had severe consequences for vulnerable communities.
Beyond the demolition controversies, Fani-Kayode also raised concerns over allegations that El-Rufai had knowledge of the interception of the National Security Adviser’s telephone conversations.
“Has it occurred to anyone that those tapping phones for Nasir El Rufai may be operatives or assets of a foreign intelligence agency or terrorist elements from outside Nigeria?” he asked.
“I sincerely hope that I am wrong but until he either confesses to us that he was lying when he said he and his associates bugged the NSA’s phone or he tells us who those that actually bugged that phone were, we will not know.”
He added that reports suggested investigators recovered phone-tapping equipment and sensitive security documents during a search of the former governor’s residence.
Fani-Kayode concluded his commentary by referencing a message posted on social media urging reflection and repentance during the Christian Lent and Muslim Ramadan seasons.
“This man (Nasir El Rufai) woke up in his house one morning. Brushed his teeth, had his bath and wore a fine babanriga, entered straight into his waiting car and was driven to a live AriseTv programme,” the message read.
“It was a conducive environment, no stress, no force, no intimidation. And he just looked at the cameras and said ‘we listen to telephone conversations of National Security Adviser. We know someone who tapped it.
“Yes, it is illegal but we are doing it…..”
The post concluded with a call for spiritual reflection, advising people not to “joke with curses” and to seek forgiveness during the religious season.
“Please, my dear friends, don’t joke with curses whether you’re right or wrong.
“Use this Lent and Ramadan season to ask God for forgiveness of all sins you committed, but more importantly, every curse placed on you that you’re treating trivially, ask God for cancellation, especially if those curses are from Kaduna people, pray fervently against it!”
I concur.
