Details Of Atiku’s Visit To El-rufai After Airport Drama

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday night, paid a solidarity visit to his political ally and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following an attempt by security operatives to arrest the ex-governor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja earlier in the day.

Atiku shared videos and photos of the visit on X on Friday morning, describing the incident as “a failed partisan attempt” by the DSS and EFCC to embarrass the former governor.

“Last night, I paid a solidarity visit to the former Governor of Kaduna State and stalwart of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, following the failed attempt by the partisan ICPC to arrest him at the airport upon his arrival in the country,” Atiku wrote.

The former Vice President, who was accompanied by some of his political associates and aides, condemned the attempted arrest, calling it a violation of democratic norms.

“This is a democratic society, a society based on rule of law,” Atiku said during the visit. “There was absolutely no need for you to be tried to be kidnapped, I would say, from the airport. I mean, they could allow you to get to your house and then invite you.”

Atiku further described the development as “an embarrassment to the entire political class,” stressing that El-Rufai’s ordeal should concern all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation.

“We condemn it in totality and we’ll stand by you and protect your interests and the interests of every law-abiding Nigerian,” he declared.

The 2023 PDP presidential candidate alleged that some anti-democratic elements, whom he accused of previously undermining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were now plotting to destabilise the ADC using the judiciary.

“We must be alert and stand up against those plans to undermine the opposition,” Atiku warned. “This is very credible information, so we must all be at alert and make sure that the judiciary is not used to undermine the ADC, just as it has been used to destroy the PDP.”

Responding, El-Rufai expressed gratitude to Atiku for what he described as a “gesture of friendship and solidarity,” noting that it was the second time in six months the former Vice President had visited him over what he termed “inciting incidents.”

“I appreciate your concern for my wellbeing and I will be eternally grateful,” El-Rufai said. He described the airport incident as “most unfortunate, totally unnecessary and probably criminal as well.”

He alleged that the ICPC had “procured” the Department of State Services (DSS) to “abduct” and hand him over to them, despite never receiving any prior communication or invitation from the anti-graft agency.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wrote me a letter of invitation, and my lawyer responded that I was abroad and would honour the invitation upon return. But ICPC, I never heard anything from them,” he explained.

El-Rufai maintained that as a law-abiding citizen, he would have honoured any formal invitation issued through the proper channels, insisting that government agencies must respect due process.