Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has reflected on the apparent silence of some former colleagues, friends and family members during his current legal difficulties, saying he neither regrets supporting them in the past nor bears resentment towards those who have chosen not to stand by him now.
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El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, made the remarks in a statement dated September 23, 2026, titled “My Relationships and the Aftermath.”
He said concerns had been raised about the silence of people with whom he had previously maintained close relationships or whom he had publicly supported, but maintained that everyone was entitled to decide how to respond to his present circumstances.
According to El-Rufai, his decisions over the years to support colleagues, friends, family members and causes were guided by his Islamic faith, Arewa upbringing, personal values and conscience rather than any expectation that such support would one day be reciprocated.
“Over the years, I have stood by people and for causes I believed in, sometimes in difficult circumstances and at considerable personal cost,” he said.
He explained that he did not do so in expectation of praise, gratitude or reciprocity, stressing that those were choices he made freely and for which he remained responsible.
El-Rufai said the situation had now reversed, leaving those he previously supported free to decide whether to speak publicly on his behalf, remain silent or distance themselves from their previous association.
“Some may speak; others may remain silent. Others may even deny our relationship or try rewriting history,” he said, adding that he would not judge them simply because their response differed from what he or others might have expected.
The former governor acknowledged, however, that his experiences in recent months had caused him to reconsider the nature of some relationships.
“Adversity has a way of illuminating relationships,” he said.
He added that what he had learnt during the difficult period could lead him, “quietly and without regret,” to reassess certain relationships and what people who looked up to him should expect from them.
El-Rufai stressed that such reassessment should not be interpreted as an attack, reproach or condemnation of anyone.
Rather, he said it was part of gaining a clearer understanding of people and life.
Despite the apparent absence of support from some associates, El-Rufai said he remained comfortable with his past decisions and would not permit the conduct of others to alter the principles that had guided him.
“I have no regrets about standing by people or for causes when I believed it was right to do so, and I bear no resentment towards anyone who chooses not to do the same for me,” he said.
He also ruled out seeking revenge over what he described as any injustice, ingratitude or injury done to him.
El-Rufai said ultimate accountability belonged to Almighty Allah and that he would leave judgment over such matters to God “in this world and in the Hereafter.”
He concluded that everyone would ultimately have to live with the consequences of their decisions, while posterity would make its own assessment.
“My only concern is to remain at peace with my conscience and, above all, with Almighty Allah,” he said.
The statement comes as El-Rufai remains involved in a number of ongoing legal proceedings.
In March 2026, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission arraigned El-Rufai and another defendant before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on a 10-count charge involving allegations of abuse of office, money laundering and fraud. Both defendants pleaded not guilty, and the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
Premium Times reported on September 24 that El-Rufai remained in ICPC custody under court-authorised remand orders while challenging his continued detention.
Separately, the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 22 fixed October 26 to rule on a no-case submission filed by El-Rufai in a five-count case concerning the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications linked to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty in that case. His lawyers argue that the prosecution has failed to establish a prima facie case requiring him to enter a defence, while prosecutors have asked the court to reject the application and order him to open his defence.
He is also pursuing a separate ₦1 billion fundamental-rights action against the ICPC, Inspector-General of Police and Attorney-General of the Federation arising from the search of his Abuja residence. That case was adjourned to October 27 for definite hearing.
None of those proceedings has resulted in a determination of guilt on the allegations currently before the courts.
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