The presidency has now responded to the accusation made by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in a letter he made public hours ago.
The presidency accused el-Rufai of deliberately creating political tension with his recent claim that the Office of the National Security Adviser planned to procure thallium sulfate from Poland.
ENigeria Newspaper reports that in a statement posted on X, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, said El-Rufai “knew there was no government procurement or importation of thallium sulfate” and described the former governor’s actions as playing to the gallery.
The statement added that El-Rufai had already received a response from the NSA’s office and should be “honorable enough to release it just as he mischievously released his own letter.”
“El-Rufai certainly got a reply to his letter from the NSA’s office, and he should be honourable enough to release it just as he mischievously released his own letter.
“The truth is Mallam El-Rufai has two clear intentions behind his recent actions and tantrums. One, to create political tension in the country, create an atmosphere of fear and unrest, and then damage the government through deliberate misinformation.
“Two, to divert attention from his domestic problems in Kaduna State, where he is facing massive corruption allegations. To draw attention to himself and project himself as a victim of persecution, he wants to nationalize his personal problems with his home state government, knowing that Nigerians will not be on his side over corruption charges,” Ajayi wrote.
According to the Presidency, El-Rufai has two motives behind his claims: to stir fear and unrest and to divert attention from corruption allegations in Kaduna State, where he faces investigations over N432 billion in alleged misappropriation.
Ajayi criticized El-Rufai’s political record in Kaduna, noting that he had lost the support of key stakeholders, including the governor he once backed and the entire 28-member State House of Assembly, who had petitioned anti-corruption agencies against him.
“Instead of behaving like a drowning man holding on to a straw, Mallam El-Rufai should brace up to face his corruption allegations and make peace with himself and his own people,” the statement concluded.
The development comes as El-Rufai is set to honour an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday, amid ongoing scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies, as reported by ENigeria Newspaper.
