Senior Political Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Demola Olarenwaju, has alleged that political motives by President Bola Tinubu to silence the opposition is behind the long detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
In a statement he posted on X, Olarenwaju claimed that El-Rufai’s release could have been secured earlier, but was delayed due to what he described as efforts to weaken opposition figures.
“El-Rufai could have been released long before now but Tinubu’s desperate attempt to cripple opposition forces and Ribadu’s desperate desire to clear future rivals is why APC kept him from DSS to EFCC to ICPC detention while they’re all still looking for evidence to indict him,” he said.
He further described the timing of El-Rufai’s release, following the death of his mother, as unfortunate.
“That it took the death of El-Rufai’s mother for him to be released from political detention is a bitter irony because perhaps she may yet be alive if Tinubu and Ribadu did not decide to punish her son politically,” he added.
Olarenwaju concluded by warning that the situation reflects what could be expected in a potential second term for President Bola Tinubu.
“We are seeing future glimpses of a Tinubu 2nd term already,” he said.
Tinubu’s attempt to cripple opposition behind El-Rufai’s long detention – Atiku’s aide
