I Begged Kwankwaso to Stop El-Rufai From Returning to Nigeria — Buba Galadima

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Buba Galadima, has revealed that he approached former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and urged him to persuade former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, not to return to Nigeria from Egypt.

Galadima made the disclosure while speaking on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he discussed El-Rufai’s political and legal situation under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

According to Galadima, he had earlier advised El-Rufai to be cautious after his relationship with Tinubu deteriorated, warning that he could face serious legal consequences.

Galadima said he had publicly raised concerns about El-Rufai’s situation during interviews with the BBC and Nigerian television stations.

He explained that after learning that the former Kaduna governor planned to return from Egypt, he personally met Kwankwaso and asked him to intervene.

“I went and met Kwankwaso and told Kwankwaso that he should beg El-Rufai not to come back. These people do not mean well to him,” Galadima said.

He claimed Kwankwaso subsequently contacted El-Rufai, who initially postponed his return before later announcing another date and eventually returning to Nigeria.

Galadima described El-Rufai’s decision to return despite the warning as an act of bravery.

He also accused Tinubu and his associates of being ungrateful to El-Rufai, claiming that the former Kaduna governor played an important role in the political efforts that contributed to Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.

Galadima further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress was determined to retain power and could take aggressive political measures to achieve that objective.

His comments come amid continuing political and legal controversy surrounding El-Rufai, who has been under investigation by anti-corruption authorities over allegations linked to his tenure as Kaduna governor.

The former governor has denied wrongdoing, while the relevant authorities have maintained that their investigations and detention measures are backed by legal processes.

Galadima’s claims about the intentions of political actors were made during the podcast interview and have not been independently established.

The comments add to the growing political debate surrounding El-Rufai as opposition groups and political figures position themselves ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.