Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has fired back at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Kaduna State Government (KDSG), dismissing claims that he is politicising national security issues.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday through his social media platforms, El-Rufai maintained that he had only spoken the truth during his recent interview with Channels Television. He argued that rather than addressing the “core issues” he raised, both ONSA and KDSG chose to deflect responsibility by accusing him of playing politics with security.
El-Rufai reiterated his long-held position that some government agencies and officials were complicit in making payments to armed groups operating in Kaduna and other parts of Northern Nigeria. He insisted that such practices undermine the fight against terrorism and banditry, eroding public trust in state institutions.
Allegations of Complicity in Payments to Bandits
The former governor accused state actors of actively “greasing the palms” of non-state armed groups under the guise of negotiations and non-kinetic approaches to security management. He demanded clarity on what these negotiations entail and questioned why they often translate to “withdrawals of huge amounts of money from state treasuries and handing them over to terrorists.”
El-Rufai raised a series of pointed questions, pressing authorities to disclose who delivers these funds to bandits, how much money changes hands, and whether intermediaries profit from such transactions. He also questioned the link between sudden purchases of prime real estate in Abuja and alleged diversion of public resources meant for security operations.
“This charade by ONSA is being done gleefully at a steep cost to the finances of the country and the ethical fabric of our society,” he wrote, adding that genuine support for the military and security agencies should come in the form of equipment, technology, and personnel—not ransom payments.
El Rufai Criticism of Security Management and “Propaganda Tactics”
El-Rufai did not mince words in accusing the ONSA of turning national security into a political project. He said the current leadership of the office has reduced the fight against insecurity to “a persistent exercise in propaganda,” rather than a serious military and intelligence operation.
He cited recent parades of rescued kidnap victims, attendance of senior officers at political events, and heavy emphasis on protocol as examples of misplaced priorities. According to him, these actions give the appearance of activity but do little to address the continuing wave of violence across Kaduna and other Northern states.
He further pointed to renewed attacks in areas such as Birnin Gwari, despite widely publicised negotiations with bandits. “After the much-publicised negotiations… did the bandits not kill five citizens in the same Birnin Gwari LGA last month?” he asked, stressing that the persistence of attacks after such deals proves their ineffectiveness.
Respect for Military Sacrifice but Criticism of Political Leaders
While launching a blistering critique of ONSA and KDSG, El-Rufai was careful to distinguish his position from criticism of the armed forces. He reiterated his respect for the military, noting that three of his siblings had served in the Nigerian Army and Air Force, with one attaining the rank of general.
He recalled his close working relationship with several service chiefs during his eight-year tenure as governor of Kaduna, acknowledging the sacrifices made by security personnel in defending Nigerians from terrorism and banditry. “Our appreciation for the sacrifices made by our military and security officers is deep,” he wrote, underscoring his insistence that his criticisms are directed only at those politicising the security architecture.
Political Tensions in Kaduna Deepen
El-Rufai’s response also touched on what he described as the Kaduna State Government’s role in enabling political violence. He referenced the recent disruption of an African Democratic Congress (ADC) meeting in Kaduna, claiming it was sponsored or tolerated by the authorities to suppress opposition voices.
Concluding his statement, the former governor called on ONSA and KDSG to redirect their focus towards concrete solutions to insecurity instead of silencing dissenting views. He argued that the people of Kaduna and Nigeria at large deserve transparency, accountability, and genuine strategies to tackle terrorism and banditry, not political grandstanding.
“The constitutional, legal and patriotic duty the government owes to security is to better support our military and security agencies,” El-Rufai stressed, “rather than further endangering the country by mollycoddling bandits.”
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