Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has taken a hard swipe at ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, calling him the new “hero” of what he describes as Nigeria’s “most dangerous, dishonest, ultra-right mob.”
In a short note posted on his social media account on Sunday, the Sahara Reporters publisher expressed disbelief at the political rehabilitation of the former governor, warning Nigerians against historical amnesia.
“Nasir El-Rufai has suddenly become the new ‘hero’ of Nigeria’s most dangerous, dishonest, ultra-right mob,” Sowore wrote.
The activist, who ran for president under the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, reminded the public of El-Rufai’s controversial past, particularly his role in the last election cycle. He suggested that those now hailing the former governor as a champion of the opposition are suffering from political amnesia.
“If you were alive in 2023, you would probably be having convulsions by now,” Sowore added, alluding to El-Rufai’s aggressive campaigning for the then-ruling party and his prominent role in the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last presidential election.
Sowore’s comments come amid growing realignments within the Nigerian political space. El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC and a key figure in the ruling party, has recently been at odds with his own party leadership.
His falling out with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly over ministerial appointments and political control in Kaduna State, and his subsequent defection to the opposition, have fueled his bitterness with his former allies in the APC, Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser.
This friction has led to overtures from opposition figures, with some welcoming his criticisms of the current administration.
In a letter posted on Sunday, El-Rufai accused National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu of overseeing the importation of approximately 10 kilograms of Thallium Sulphate, a “highly toxic and tightly controlled” poison, from a supplier in Poland.
The letter, titled “Request for Clarification on the Procurement of Thallium Sulphate,” demands details on the intended purpose of the deadly substance, the identity of the supplier, the validity of import permits, and the storage arrangements.
El-Rufai warned that the substance is banned in many jurisdictions for civilian use due to its extreme toxicity and raised concerns about public safety and the lack of oversight from health agencies like NAFDAC.
The letter, which escalated the ongoing political feud between the two former allies, came just days after El-Rufai accused Ribadu of orchestrating an attempt to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The former governor had previously claimed to have accessed a tapped phone conversation where Ribadu allegedly gave the order for his arrest. As of the time of the report, the Office of the National Security Adviser had not issued an official response to the grave allegations.
Discussion about this post