Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said he bears no hatred or resentment towards former colleagues, friends and family members who have chosen not to stand by him during his current difficulties.
El-Rufai made the remarks in a statement titled “My Relationships and the Aftermath,” which he published on his social media account on Wednesday.
The former governor said he had supported people and causes over the years because he believed they were right, rather than because he expected gratitude, praise or reciprocal support.
“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.
According to El-Rufai, people he had previously supported were free to decide how they wanted to respond to his present circumstances. He said some could speak publicly in his support, while others could remain silent or distance themselves from relationships they previously maintained.
He said he did not intend to judge people simply because their reactions differed from what he or others might have expected.
The former governor said his experience had nevertheless caused him to reflect on some of his relationships.
“Adversity has a way of illuminating relationships,” he said, adding that the lessons from his current circumstances might lead him to reconsider the nature of certain relationships.
El-Rufai, however, stressed that such reflection should not be interpreted as condemnation of those who had chosen not to support him.
He said he had no regrets about standing by people or causes whenever he believed doing so was the right thing.
“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 addressed what he described as injustice, ingratitude or injury, saying he would not seek revenge or retribution.
El-Rufai said he would instead leave ultimate accountability to God, reflecting his religious convictions.
The former governor concluded by saying that individuals would ultimately have to live with the choices they made and that history would determine how those choices were viewed.
“My only concern is to remain at peace with my conscience and, above all, with Almighty Allah,” he said.
El-Rufai’s statement comes amid a period of legal and political difficulties for the former governor. Premium Times reported that he is being detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over corruption allegations. The allegations remain matters of investigation and legal process and should not be treated as established wrongdoing.
The former governor has also been involved in a separate legal dispute with the ICPC, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the police over a search of his Abuja residence earlier this year. A Federal High Court in Abuja recently adjourned his N1 billion suit against the agencies until October 27, 2026, for definite hearing.
El-Rufai’s latest statement did not identify the individuals he was referring to as having abandoned him. Instead, he framed the issue more broadly as a reflection on relationships, personal principles and how people respond to one another during difficult periods.
The statement also indicated that, despite his disappointment with some reactions, he intended to maintain his own principles rather than respond with retaliation.
His comments have since drawn attention because of his long-standing involvement in Nigerian public affairs and the relationships he has built during his political career.
For now, El-Rufai says his focus is on maintaining his personal convictions and leaving questions of accountability to God and, ultimately, history.
