Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has strongly denied allegations of corruption during his tenure as governor, stating that his entry into politics was driven by a desire to serve the people, not to steal public funds. Speaking on a Hausa program on Freedom Radio, Kaduna, on Tuesday, El-Rufai dismissed accusations of financial misconduct, emphasizing that he was already financially comfortable before taking office.
“I did not join politics to steal money or enrich myself. I was satisfied with what I had before becoming governor,” El-Rufai declared. He expressed his willingness to swear on the Quran to prove his innocence, challenging other former governors and current leaders to do the same. “Whenever the former governors of Kaduna State and other leaders are ready to swear with the Quran that they never misappropriated public funds, I will join them. I have no fear because I know I never took money that belonged to the people,” he said.
The allegations of corruption came after the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted El-Rufai’s administration for the alleged misappropriation of over N423 billion during his eight-year tenure as governor. However, El-Rufai and his allies have denied the charges, calling them politically motivated attacks aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
The former governor expressed disappointment over the accusations, noting that no clear evidence had been provided to show where the funds were mismanaged or who was responsible. “My administration has been accused without any proof of where the money went missing or who took it,” he said, questioning the basis of the claims made against him.
El-Rufai also revealed that his associates had been targeted by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of what he called a smear campaign against him. Despite the pressure, he maintained his innocence and said he had left the matter in God’s hands. “I have left everything to God’s judgment. I have prayed and will remain silent on the issue. I have instructed my lawyers to take legal action against those tarnishing my name, but for now, I’m focused on my activities like reading and writing,” he explained.
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The former governor stressed that his commitment to serving the people continues even though he is no longer in office. “You don’t need to hold a position in government to serve. We are still working with like-minded individuals who genuinely want to serve the people, not those seeking to enrich themselves,” El-Rufai added.
El-Rufai, who stepped down as governor in 2023, revealed his plans to return to politics in 2027 after completing his studies. “There is no retirement in politics. God willing, we will return and continue serving the people,” he stated. This suggests that El-Rufai sees a future for himself in Nigeria’s political landscape, despite the current challenges.
Throughout the interview, El-Rufai portrayed himself as a leader guided by his faith and a strong desire to serve the people of Kaduna State. He insisted that the accusations of corruption against him were baseless and politically driven, reaffirming his readiness to defend his legacy as governor.