The Presidency has accused former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of deliberately stoking political tension and spreading misinformation in an attempt to divert attention from alleged N432 billion corruption allegations in Kaduna State.
The reaction followed El-Rufai’s recent letter to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, in which he requested clarification over the alleged procurement of Thallium Sulphate from Poland.
Responding in a post on his verified X handle, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, dismissed the claims as false and alarmist. He maintained that there was no procurement or importation of Thallium Sulphate into Nigeria through the Office of the National Security Adviser or any agency under its supervision.
Ajayi further alleged that El-Rufai had already received an official response from the NSA’s office but chose not to make it public.
“El-Rufai certainly got a reply to his letter from the NSA’s office, and he should be honourable enough to release it just as he mischievously released his own letter,” Ajayi stated.
According to the Presidency, the former governor’s recent statements were calculated to achieve two objectives: to destabilise the political climate through what it described as deliberate misinformation, and to shift public focus away from corruption allegations he is reportedly facing in Kaduna State.
“The truth is: Mallam El-Rufai has two clear intentions behind his recent actions and tantrums. One, to create political tension in the country and damage the government through deliberate misinformation. Two, to divert attention from his domestic problems in Kaduna State, where he is facing massive corruption allegations,” Ajayi said.
The Presidency argued that El-Rufai was attempting to “nationalise his personal problems,” suggesting that public sympathy would be unlikely in the face of the corruption claims.
The latest exchange marks a deepening of the public dispute between the former governor and the Federal Government, as political tensions continue to simmer.
