Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that he could be arrested by the Nigerian government anytime soon, claiming that recent developments indicate he may be the next target.
El-Rufai said this during an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, where he expressed concerns over what he described as growing political intimidation against opposition figures.
The former FCT Minister, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said some of his close associates had already been detained.
“Four people we worked with in Kaduna have been arrested; so it’s only a matter of time before they come for me too,” he said.
Although he stated that he had not yet been arrested, El-Rufai suggested that the arrests of his associates signalled possible action against him.
He further alleged that political pressure was being mounted on politicians to either defect to the APC or remain within the ruling party.
The current political climate is forcing individuals to make decisions not out of conviction but survival, according to him.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State for eight years under the APC platform, has in recent times intensified his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the leadership of the party.
He made the comment amid the arrest and ongoing trial of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had accused Malami of offences including abuse of office and money laundering.
Authorities later rearrested him over fresh allegations bordering on terrorism financing.
Malami, who is also reported to have defected from the APC to the ADC, has denied all allegations against him.
He described the charges as a “political witch-hunt” allegedly linked to his defection and opposition stance.