Former Governor of Kaduna State and current National Security Adviser, Nasir El-Rufai, has responded to his online critics, dismissing their attacks as baseless.
In a candid post on his verified X account on Saturday, El-Rufai stated that he remains unfazed by the negative reactions to his social media posts, asserting that those who criticize him are doing so out of ignorance and prejudice.
El-Rufai expressed his indifference to the criticisms, emphasizing that he doesn’t care about how his posts are interpreted.
He remarked, “Interpret, misinterpret, or reinterpret any posts by me or any other as you wish. I frankly don’t give a damn. Abuse and insult with no basis. By all means, pass your judgment in ignorance and bigotry. Nothing will change. What will be will be, in sha Allah.”
The former governor’s remarks came in the wake of a wave of criticism on social media after he made a post addressing envy and hatred among Nigerians.
In his post, El-Rufai used the example of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who emerged as the Democratic presidential candidate, to illustrate the dangers of envy and hatred in society.
He wrote, “The emerging problem of Nigeria is the outcome of the continuously deteriorating competence, capacity, and commitment of the political leadership. Societies succeed or fail depending on these personal and institutional qualities. No matter what, the incurable virus of envy has to be confronted and degraded, if not cured, if Nigeria is to achieve its manifest destiny of greatness and leadership of the Black Race. I pray this can be realized.”
This post did not sit well with some, including Banks Omishore, an aide to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Omishore criticized El-Rufai, arguing that the former governor lacked the moral authority to speak against envy and hatred, pointing out El-Rufai’s past actions against former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Since leaving office, El-Rufai has faced several political challenges. Notably, in August 2023, the Senate declined to confirm his nomination as a ministerial candidate.
Furthermore, in March 2024, his successor, Governor Uba Sani, revealed that he had inherited a significant debt burden from El-Rufai’s administration, totaling $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly later accused El-Rufai in July 2024 of diverting public funds amounting to N423 billion during his tenure as governor.
