El-Rufai Laments Silence of Friends, Ex-Colleagues Amid Legal Troubles

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed concern over the silence of some of his former colleagues, friends and associates as he faces ongoing legal and political challenges.

El-Rufai raised the issue in a personal statement titled “My Relationships and the Aftermath,” dated September 23, in which he reflected on relationships he had built over the years and the conduct of some people he previously supported.

He said his decision to stand by friends, colleagues, family members and causes he believed in was guided by his Islamic faith, Arewa upbringing, personal values and conscience.

According to him, such support was sometimes offered under difficult circumstances and at considerable personal cost, but he never expected praise, gratitude or reciprocal support.

“I did so not in expectation of praise, gratitude or reciprocity, but because I believed it was right,” he said.

El-Rufai acknowledged that some people who had been close to him may now choose to remain silent because of the circumstances surrounding his current difficulties.

He said others could decide to distance themselves, deny previous relationships or present events differently, adding that he did not intend to judge anyone solely because their response differed from what he or others might have expected.

“Those I have supported are free to make their own choices now that circumstances are reversed,” he said.

The former governor, however, suggested that difficult periods could influence how he views some of his relationships in the future.

He said recent events had given him an opportunity to reassess certain relationships and consider the expectations of people who had previously looked up to him.

“Adversity has a way of illuminating relationships,” El-Rufai said, adding that such reflection was neither a reproach nor condemnation of those involved.

El-Rufai stressed that he had no regrets about supporting people or causes whenever he believed doing so was right.

He also said he would not allow the conduct of others to change the principles that had guided his own actions.

“I would rather remain true to the principles that have guided my own conduct than allow the conduct of others to redefine them,” he said.

His comments come amid legal proceedings involving him. On September 22, the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed October 26 to rule on his no-case submission in a five-count case brought by the Department of State Services over alleged interception of telephone communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court is yet to determine the case.

He is also pursuing a separate fundamental rights case relating to the search of his Abuja residence, with the matter adjourned to October 27.

Against this backdrop, his latest statement focused less on the legal cases themselves and more on the personal consequences of the difficult period.

The former governor said he had no intention of seeking revenge or retribution over what he described as any injustice, ingratitude or injury suffered.

“As for any injustice, ingratitude or injury done to me, I seek neither revenge nor retribution,” he said, leaving ultimate accountability to Almighty Allah.

El-Rufai concluded by saying that every individual would eventually have to live with the consequences of their choices.

He said his immediate concern was to remain faithful to his conscience and his religious convictions, regardless of how others responded to his present circumstances.

The statement did not identify any of the friends, former colleagues or family members whose silence prompted the reflection.