Human rights activist, Mahdi Shehu, has criticised former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of hypocrisy over his recent comments on security strategies in the country.
Speaking in reaction to El-Rufai’s interview on Channels Television last week, Shehu said it was ironic for the ex-governor to condemn Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for allegedly making payments to bandits, when he himself once admitted to taking similar steps.
Shehu referred to a Vanguard report from December 3, 2016, which stated that El-Rufai’s administration had tracked armed herders in neighbouring countries and provided them with compensation to halt attacks in Kaduna.
“We took specific measures by sending teams to trace these individuals in countries like Cameroon and Niger, informing them that there is a new governor who is Fulani, willing to pay compensation for lives lost, and urging them to stop the killings,” Mahdi quoted El-Rufai.
According to the activist, El-Rufai cannot now pretend to be against what he himself justified and implemented.
Shehu asked: “Is this not the same El-Rufai who once admitted to paying compensation and gifts to armed groups, yet now condemns others for using material inducement as part of security management simply because he is no longer in the corridors of power?”
“Has El-Rufai forgotten that between 2015 and 2023, under Buhari’s government where he was a key figure, insecurity and reckless security spending became the order of the day? Has he forgotten that under his former boss, insecurity reached its peak despite trillions being spent in the name of fighting insurgency?”
Mahdi further revealed that El-Rufai’s recent interview on Channels Television was seen as an example of how former power holders often develop new attitudes once they are no longer in office.
According to him, the session with Seun was marked by expressions of anger, bitterness, and harsh judgment.
“Throughout the entire interview with Seun, El-Rufai’s remarks were marked by anger, bitterness, and vindictiveness, reflecting serious lapses in judgment. It would appear that even the passage of time will not heal Nasiru’s self inflicting deep seated lacerations.
“If Nuhu Ribadu and Governor Uba Sani are guilty of what El-Rufai accuses them of, then El-Rufai is far guiltier, given his more than 20 years in the corridors of power. We should wait until Uba Sani completes his tenure and then compare his record with El-Rufai’s to know who the real villain is.”
He concluded by reminding El-Rufai of the biblical admonition.
“Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”
