Political activist and co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, has refuted claims that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi ordered the arrest of Nasir El-Rufai during Obi’s tenure.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Yesufu clarified that El-Rufai was detained in Anambra by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and not under Peter Obi’s orders.
Her comments came in response to remarks by Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohonbamu, who referenced the incident while defending Governor Monday Okpebholo’s warning to Obi not to enter the state without his approval.
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Yesufu strongly criticized Governor Okpebholo’s threat, stating, “The governor said what he said very clearly, and that is a threat to life.”
She further dismissed the Edo State Government’s subsequent clarification that Obi merely needed to seek security clearance, asserting, “I don’t know what gives Governor Okpebholo the audacity that he can give security clearances for any Nigerian to be able to come to Edo State. Edo State is not his family estate. Yes, he currently might be the one governing the state, but he doesn’t have the right to give anybody clearance to be anywhere.”
Regarding the claim linking Obi to El-Rufai’s arrest, Yesufu stated, “There was also something in the statement released by the Edo State Government based on the threat the governor had made to Mr Peter Obi, where he was saying he is not like Mr Peter Obi who got El-Rufai arrested in Anambra State. That statement is not factual. Mr Peter Obi never arrested the former Governor of Kaduna State. He was arrested in Anambra State, but he was arrested by the DSS, and the order from above from the set-right never had anything to do with Mr Peter Obi.”
In November 2013, El-Rufai, then a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), was indeed detained by DSS officials in Anambra during the state’s governorship election.
El-Rufai had stated he was in Anambra to observe the election but was stopped and held in his hotel in Awka.
The DSS later explained the detention was due to “security concerns” in the area at the time.
Yesufu’s clarification comes amidst heightened political tensions following Governor Okpebholo’s recent remarks after Obi’s visit to Benin City.
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