‘You’ve Held High Govt Positions, No Need For Authorities To Embarrass You At Abuja Airport,’ Atiku Tells El-Rufai

 Atiku expressed solidarity with El-Rufai, urging him to focus on reuniting peacefully with his family despite the incident.

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the attempted arrest of former Kaduna State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) stalwart, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, at Abuja Airport, as an embarrassment to the former governor by the operatives of the Department of the State Services (DSS).

Speaking during his visit to El-Rufai on Thursday night, Atiku said the former Kaduna governor did not deserve the “embarrassing” action by the security operatives, having served as a governor and a minister in the country.

Atiku expressed solidarity with El-Rufai, urging him to focus on reuniting peacefully with his family despite the incident. 

“Excellency, my brother, you are welcome, and I hope in spite of what has happened at the airport, you will join members of your family to have a peaceful reunion,” he said.

Atiku strongly criticised the actions of government operatives at the airport, describing them as unnecessary and embarrassing. 

“There is absolutely no reason for authorities to try and embarrass you at the airport, not only you, but embarrass all Nigerians because this is a democratic society. 

“This is a society based on the rule of law. There was absolutely no need for you to be, or try to be, kidnapped from the airport. They could have allowed you to return to your house and then invite you normally,” he stated.

Highlighting El-Rufai’s long service to the nation, Atiku said, “You have held very, very high positions in government in this country. 

“You were a minister, you were a governor, and you successfully performed your functions. There was no need for them to try to embarrass you. 

“By embarrassing you, they are entirely embarrassing the entire political class, and we condemn it in totality. 

“We will stand by you and protect your interests, and the interests of every law-abiding Nigerian, particularly the ADC.”

Atiku also warned against attempts to undermine opposition parties, citing ongoing risks to both the PDP and ADC through judicial processes. 

“Just as they undermine and sabotage the PDP, there are also efforts and plans to undermine the ADC by using the judiciary again. We must be alert, and we must stand up against those plans to undermine the opposition. 

“This is very credible information, so we should all be alert and ensure that the judiciary is not used to undermine the ADC. We must unite and stand against these anti-democratic forces,” he said.

The visit underscores rising tensions between opposition leaders and federal authorities, with critics arguing that such incidents threaten the principles of democracy and rule of law in Nigeria.