The Presidency has accused former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai of playing games after his request that the Office of the National Security Adviser clarify the alleged procurement of a toxic chemical substance.
Daily Sun reported that the office of the NSA responded to El-Rufai’s request by asking for evidence to substantiate his claim that it procured thallium sulphate, a highly toxic substance.
Speaking in a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, claimed that El-Rufai received a letter from the NSA’s office, asking him to be honourable enough to release it.
According to Ajayi, El-Rufai knows there was no procurement or importation of Thallium sulphate into Nigeria from Poland through the office of the National Security Adviser.
“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is playing games and, in his typical fashion, also playing to the gallery. He knew there was no government procurement or importation of Thallium sulphate into Nigeria from Poland through the office of the National Security Adviser.
“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.
“The truth is: Mallam El-Rufai has two clear intentions behind his recent actions and tantrums. One, to create political tension in the country, create an atmosphere of fear and unrest, and then damage the government through deliberate misinformation.
“Two, to divert attention from his domestic problems in Kaduna State, where he is facing massive corruption allegations.
“To draw attention to himself and project himself as a victim of persecution, he wants to nationalise his personal problems with his home state government, knowing that Nigerians will not be on his side over corruption charges.
“The question should be asked: how did El-Rufai lose almost everyone in the state he governed for eight years?
“He lost the support of the state’s critical stakeholders. He lost the governor, who had once been his political soulmate, a man he had supported to become a Senator of the Federal Republic and, later, the governor after him, even if half-heartedly.
“El-Rufai lost the entire 28 members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, who unanimously endorsed a petition to both the ICPC and the EFCC to probe him over N432bn corruption allegations, for which both agencies have invited him.
“Instead of behaving like a drowning man holding on to a straw to stay afloat, Mallam El-Rufai should brace up to face his corruption allegations and make peace with himself and his own people,” the statement posted on X reads.
