ABUJA – The Presidency has hit back at former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of spreading “deliberate misinformation” and using national security as a smokescreen to hide from his own legal troubles.
The war of words follows El-Rufai’s sensational claim that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was secretly procuring thallium sulphate, a lethal chemical, from Poland. El-Rufai had shared a letter on his 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, demanding “clarification” on the alleged deal.
“Playing to the Gallery”
In a blistering response, Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, dismissed the allegations as a total fabrication. He accused the former governor of acting “mischievously” by posting his own inquiry while hiding the official reply he had already received from the NSA.
“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is playing games and, in his typical fashion, playing to the gallery,” Ajayi stated. “He knows there was no government procurement or importation of thallium sulphate. He should be honorable enough to release the reply he got from the NSA’s office.”
A Distraction from Kaduna?
The Presidency didn’t stop at denying the chemical claims; they suggested El-Rufai’s real motive is to divert public attention from a massive N432 billion corruption probe currently rocking his home state of Kaduna.
Ajayi pointed out that El-Rufai has lost the support of nearly every political ally in Kaduna, including the State House of Assembly, which unanimously voted to have him investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC.
“The truth is, Mallam El-Rufai has two clear intentions: to create an atmosphere of fear through misinformation and to project himself as a victim of persecution to nationalize his personal problems,” the statement read.
The Ribadu Factor
The Presidency further clarified that neither President Bola Tinubu nor NSA Nuhu Ribadu is responsible for El-Rufai’s current predicament. They questioned how a man who governed a state for eight years could lose the backing of all 28 members of the state’s legislature.
The ONSA has already referred the matter of the alleged chemical procurement to the Department of State Services (DSS), challenging El-Rufai to provide his evidence to the secret police rather than “nationalizing his tantrums” on social media.
Security Alert
While the political battle rages, security experts have urged the public to remain calm, noting that there is currently no verified evidence that any hazardous chemicals have entered the country outside of standard regulated channels.
The ball is now back in El-Rufai’s court. Will he release the NSA’s reply, or will he head to the DSS headquarters with his “proof”?
