By Joy Yesufu
The Presidency has accused former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of deliberately attempting to create political tension in the country while deflecting attention from alleged corruption issues in Kaduna State.
In a post shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, alleged that El-Rufai’s recent public statements were aimed at destabilising the political atmosphere and portraying himself as a victim of persecution.
According to Ajayi, the former governor’s actions are driven by two principal motives: to generate fear and unrest nationwide, and to divert scrutiny from what he described as “massive corruption allegations” in Kaduna State.
“El-Rufai has two clear intentions behind his recent actions and tantrums,” Ajayi wrote. “One, to create political tension in the country and an atmosphere of fear and unrest. Two, to divert attention from his domestic problems in Kaduna State, where he is facing massive corruption allegations.”
Ajayi further claimed that El-Rufai was attempting to “nationalise” his personal political challenges in order to attract public sympathy, despite what he suggested was limited national support over the corruption claims.
The Presidency’s remarks followed El-Rufai’s recent interview on a national television station, where he criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government shortly after returning to the country.
The controversy deepened amid reports that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly attempted to arrest the former governor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, a development that has since generated widespread public debate.
