…Says El-Rufai’s Travails Are Political, Describes Him as Prisoner of Conscience
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has explained that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s decision to appoint former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as deputy chairman of his 2027 Presidential Campaign Council was partly to honour what he described as El-Rufai’s sacrifices.
CDA News Nigeria reports that Momodu, who is Deputy Director-General of the campaign’s Media and Communications Directorate, made the remarks while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that Atiku on Thursday unveiled his campaign council, naming Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman and El-Rufai as deputy chairman. The 69-man National Campaign Council also includes Senator Austin Akobundu as Director-General and Campaign Manager, with former APC National Chairman John Oyegun, Momodu, and Dino Melaye among its members.
Explaining El-Rufai’s appointment, Momodu said, “It is a way of honouring his sacrifice because his travails, I can say, are quite political in nature”.
He also argued that El-Rufai’s decision to return to Nigeria despite knowing that he could face arrest demonstrated his commitment to the country. “He’s being held down not because he has committed any crime. He could have stayed away from the country. He chose to come back to the country. He knew he was going to be arrested, and he was arrested,” Momodu said.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that El-Rufai is currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over an ongoing investigation and related legal proceedings. He has also faced separate legal proceedings, including a case filed by the Department of State Services over allegations relating to the interception of communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Omodu criticised the bail conditions attached to the former governor’s case, describing them as excessive. “The bail conditions given to him are so horrendous that even his enemies would wonder why he has to go through such a painful experience in the hands of a government that he helped to midwife,” he said.
Mmodu also highlighted El-Rufai’s political influence, claiming that the former governor played an important role in the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. “If not for him, I’m sure President Bola Tinubu would not be in office today,” Momodu said
The ADC chieftain said El-Rufai’s inclusion in the campaign structure reflected the former governor’s political relevance and the role he could play as the opposition party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
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