By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate release of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing his reported detention as unjust, politically motivated and a threat to democratic values in Nigeria.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Thursday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the continued detention of El-Rufai at a time when Muslims across the country are preparing for the Eid Kabir celebration was cruel and deeply troubling.
The former presidential candidate said the alleged detention raises serious concerns over the use of state institutions to intimidate perceived political opponents, warning that such actions could undermine civil liberties and the rule of law.
According to him, no government in a democratic society should use its authority to punish dissent or settle political disputes through coercive means.
Atiku said regardless of political differences, El-Rufai remains a Nigerian citizen entitled to the constitutional rights of liberty, dignity and due process, stressing that any legal action against him must be transparent and in accordance with the law.
He added that if the former governor is being held on legitimate legal grounds, the authorities owe Nigerians a clear explanation. Otherwise, he said, the situation would reinforce fears that the country’s democracy is drifting toward intolerance and authoritarianism.
READ ALSO:Why APC Must Embrace Direct Primary Elections Now
The Merit Newspaper reports that the former vice president also appealed to the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government to act in the spirit of mercy and reconciliation associated with Eid Kabir by ensuring El-Rufai is reunited with his family before the Muslim festival.
“At a time of sacrifice, compassion and family reunion, there is no justification for keeping a man away from his loved ones where due process has not been clearly established,” Atiku said.
He urged relevant authorities to rise above political grievances and act in the interest of justice, peace and national cohesion.
The statement, signed by Phrank Shaibu in Abuja on May 15, said the continued detention of El-Rufai should not be allowed to become a symbol of selective justice or political vendetta in Nigeria’s democratic space.
