Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, has reacted to the interview granted on Arise TV by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State on Monday evening. He urged the public to disregard El-rufai’s statements against him.
Ribadu further stated why despite El-Rufai’s baiting and attacks, he has never spoken ill of the former Kaduna Governor on record anywhere. This, as Ribady put it, “is out of respect for our past association and our respective families. I will not start today.”
Below is Ribadu’s statement
I WON’T JOIN ISSUES WITH NASIR EL-RUFAI
My attention has been drawn to the interview granted by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State on Monday evening.
If my silence wouldn’t risk being construed as consent, I would have ignored him. I am too preoccupied with my current assignment to get into a media fight with Nasir El-Rufai or anyone else.
Despite the incessant baiting and attacks, I have never spoken ill of Nasir on record anywhere. This is out of respect for our past association and our respective families. I will not start today.
I, however, urge the public to disregard El-rufai’s statements against me.
For the avoidance of doubt, I want to put it on record that I have never discussed running for president in 2031 with anybody. All my focus and energy are geared completely towards the advancement of Nigeria and the success of the President Tinubu administration.
I, therefore, ask Nasir El-Rufai to allow me face my onerous national assignment just as I do not bother myself with his own affairs.
*Nuhu Ribadu