El-Rufai Playing Victim To Escape Corruption Probe — Presidency

The presidency has, one again, accused former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of projecting himself as a victim of political persecution in order to escape accountability for corruption allegations he is facing in his home state.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the accusation in a statement posted on his X handle on Monday morning, describing El-Rufai’s recent public outbursts as calculated moves driven by two clear intentions.

“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,” Onanuga said.

The presidential aide said El-Rufai was attempting to “nationalise his personal problems” with the Kaduna State government by drawing attention to himself and casting himself as a victim, knowing that Nigerians would not be sympathetic to his cause over corruption charges.

“To draw attention to himself and project himself as a victim of persecution, he wants to nationalise his personal problems with his home state government, knowing that Nigerians will not be on his side over corruption charges,” Onanuga stated.

El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State for eight years, is currently facing a N432 billion corruption probe after all 28 members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly unanimously endorsed a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Onanuga’s statement aligned with an earlier broadside from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Temitope Ajayi, who had also accused El-Rufai of playing games and acting like “a drowning man holding on to a straw” to stay afloat politically.