By our reporter
Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s new political abode, the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP), today (March 14), has alleged that the Federal Government (FG) planned to file multiple trumped up criminal charges against him imminently.
The SDP said it gathered that courts in Kaduna and Abuja were allegedly to be used for the purpose.
The party further alleged that the authorities had set machinery in motion to ensure El-Rufai does not flee the country.
SDP claimed that the plans were part of an official bid to persecute some unnamed opposition figures in the country and prevent more defections from APC.
Recall that El-Rufai last Monday dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a party where, during the immediate past federal administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, he wielded much influence and was a big voice.
However, his influence in the current government of President Bola Tinubu has, noticeably, been whittled down with the one-time Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the Obasanjo regime, apparently sidelined and now fighting the political battle of his life.
Submitting his resignation letter to his ward branch of APC, El-Rufai had accused the party and the FG of deviating from the party’s principles and objectives.
He added further fuel to his criticism when during a Hausa Service interview on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the outspoken former governor also accused some unidentified Ministers of having “bought” their appointments, adding that many top shots in the Tinubu government were merely after their selfish financial gains and not necessarily public service.
In a press statement, SDP, which asserted that the government was not comfortable with what it called its (SDP’s) rising momentum, claimed that the APC had, deploying government apparatuses, concluded plans to deal with El-Rufai and possibly teach other opposition figures a lesson.
In the statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ambassador Rufus Aiyenigba, the party deplored such tactics.
The statement read,in part: “The SDP has received reliable information that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is concerned about the momentum of our party.
“In response, the APC has leveraged its governmental control to fabricate criminal charges against our members.
“Our sources revealed that the persecution will commence with one of our prominent leaders, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
“The government is planning to file multiple charges against him in Abuja and Kaduna imminently.
“In preparation for this, we have also learned that the federal government has instructed its agencies to prevent Mallam Nasir El-Rufai from leaving the country.”
