El-Rufai denies misappropriating N423bn, ready to swear on Quran

Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has vehemently denied allegations of financial misappropriation during his eight-year tenure, stating that he entered politics solely to serve the people, not to enrich himself.

In a Hausa program aired on Freedom Radio station in Kaduna on Tuesday, El-Rufai emphasized, “I joined politics only to serve the people of Kaduna State; I didn’t come to look for money, because I give glory to God that I’m content with what I had even before becoming governor.”

The Kaduna State House of Assembly had indicted El-Rufai’s administration for misappropriating over N423 billion, but the former governor and his allies have dismissed these claims as a witch-hunt by the Assembly and the state government.

El-Rufai expressed his frustration, saying, “Yet they are going after my allies by inviting them to the ICPC and EFCC with the intention of tarnishing their names. As for me, I had already prayed two Raka’at on Friday night, leaving everything to God, seeking His judgment.”

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He further stated that he is prepared to swear on the Quran, alongside other former governors and leaders, to affirm that he never misappropriated public funds.

El-Rufai’s lawyer has been instructed to sue those attempting to tarnish his name, but he remains steadfast in his faith, saying, “If you report something to God, you must desist from making comments.”

“Although I have ordered my lawyers to sue in court against attempts to tarnish my name, that will continue. But presently, I’m doing fine by going about my normal activities such as reading and writing.”

He continued, “I was quiet to see how things would turn out, but for me, I always ask God to help me in whatever I do in life because, as a human being, I always try not to do anything wrong or betray the people’s trust.

“I always say that whenever the former governors of Kaduna State and other leaders decide to take an oath swearing with the Quran that they never took people’s money, I’m also ready to swear. This is because I know that I didn’t go into public service to steal or take people’s money. I joined politics only to serve the people of Kaduna State; I didn’t come to look for money, because I give glory to God that I’m content with what I had even before becoming governor. Yet, we were accused of misappropriation of funds during our tenure without being given a specific area where the money went missing or who took it.

“You can still continue working for the people even after government, and that is what we are doing right now. We are still working alongside those who cherish serving the people, not those who enter politics or governance to siphon public funds to add to their wealth. That is not our intention. God knows that, and the people with positive minds know that too. May God bring development to our people,” he said.

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