Baba-Ahmed urges Nasir El-Rufai to focus on clearing corruption allegations as public dispute with NSA Nuhu Ribadu escalates
Former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has advised former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai to prioritise clearing his name over corruption allegations, describing him as “a very difficult person to advise.”
Also read: El-Rufai’s NSA Claims Spark Serious Political Backlash
Baba-Ahmed made the remarks on Tuesday during an appearance on Political Paradigm, a current affairs programme amid a growing public dispute between El-Rufai and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
“If I were to advise El-Rufai, there are so few fronts that you’d fight, so try and limit the damage, focus your attention on getting yourself cleaned up on allegations that you stole money from the people,” Baba-Ahmed said, adding that El-Rufai’s temperament made him challenging to counsel.
He stressed that the allegations should be addressed through the judicial system rather than dismissed as political theatre.
“All these weighty issues must be brought at the disposal of the judicial process, and we must know what the truths or otherwise of these allegations are; we cannot sweep them on the grounds that this is politics,” he said.
The rift intensified after El-Rufai accused Ribadu of ordering his “abduction” at Abuja airport and claimed that associates had intercepted instructions allegedly directing security operatives to detain him.
El-Rufai also alleged that Ribadu influenced investigations by anti-corruption agencies and the Kaduna State House of Assembly for political reasons tied to an alleged 2031 presidential ambition.
Ribadu has denied all claims, insisting the accusations were unfounded and that agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operate independently.
Reflecting on the dispute, Baba-Ahmed said the deterioration of their relationship highlighted deeper challenges in Nigeria’s political culture.
“I am extremely saddened by the development…we are dealing with a situation of two friends threatening to take legal action against each other,” he said.
Also read: Protesters Demand Probe of El-Rufai N432bn Allegations
Both men had been influential during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration and maintained a close professional and personal relationship throughout El-Rufai’s tenure as Kaduna governor, making the fallout all the more significant.
