A civil society group, Kaduna Voices United, has sharply criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for his recent comments defending the detained former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of selective outrage and political inconsistency.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Chairman, Yariok Makama Goje, the coalition described Atiku’s call for accountability over El-Rufai’s detention and reported health issues including a nosebleed as hypocritical, given the silence from prominent figures during El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023.
According to Daily Post reports, the group was reacting to Atiku’s statement, in which he described El-Rufai’s situation as “deeply troubling and unacceptable in a democracy” and demanded transparency from the Federal Government regarding the agency responsible for his detention, while warning of consequences if harm befell the ex-governor.
Goje highlighted the irony, stating: “The silence from important people, like Atiku Abubakar, during those difficult times makes us worry a lot about whether they are still honest in their current roles.”
Truth Live News learnt that the coalition emphasised that while concerns for El-Rufai’s health are valid, they should not overshadow the gravity of the allegations against him, which include serious criminal charges by the Department of State Services (DSS) over illegal wiretapping, failure to report intercepted messages, and endangering national security.
It further noted ongoing probes by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) into alleged corruption, misuse of public funds, and money laundering linked to projects such as the Kaduna light rail, involving claims of N432 billion wrongly taken.
“The case of Nasir El-Rufai shows what can happen when someone in a position of power is accused of wrongdoing while in office. It is not only foolish but also risky to think about trying to clear El-Rufai’s name when he is dealing with major legal problems,” the statement read.
The group accused Atiku of applying double standards, arguing that his push for transparency in El-Rufai’s case should extend to all instances of alleged corruption and abuse of power.
“Atiku’s comments show a concerning lack of consistency and a level of embarrassment that needs to be looked into. It’s wrong to ask for accountability for how El-Rufai was treated without speaking up about the same problems that are now causing him trouble,” it added.
Kaduna Voices United stressed that public officials must be held accountable regardless of political affiliations, warning that selective advocacy undermines democracy, rule of law, and public trust in governance.
The coalition called for consistent application of accountability principles, urging that the same vigour Atiku demands for El-Rufai’s welfare be applied universally to ensure no one escapes scrutiny for alleged misuse of power or public funds.
