Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has broken his silence on the apparent quiet from friends and former colleagues as he battles legal and political troubles, stating he bears no resentment toward those who have distanced themselves.
In a statement titled “My Relationships and the Aftermath,” dated September 23, 2026, El-Rufai addressed concerns over the silence of individuals he had previously supported. He disclosed that he had stood by people and causes “at considerable personal cost,” guided by his Islamic faith, Arewa upbringing, and conscience not by expectations of praise or reciprocity.
“Their reasons are their own, and I do not wish to judge them merely because their response differs from what others or even I might have expected,” he said, adding that some may speak, remain silent, or even “rewrite the past”. He described adversity as a lens that “illuminates relationships,” noting the experience might lead him to quietly reassess certain ties without regret or condemnation.
El-Rufai, who has spent over 220 days in detention, faces multiple charges including alleged money laundering and unlawful interception of the National Security Adviser’s communications. He has accused the Tinubu administration of a witch-hunt.
The former governor stressed he seeks “neither revenge nor retribution,” leaving ultimate accountability to Allah. “I would rather remain true to the principles that have guided my own conduct than allow the conduct of others to redefine them”. He concluded that his priority is to remain at peace with his conscience.