The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has urged the Federal Government to protect Peter Obi and ensure Nasir El-Rufai receives a fair trial, insisting that justice and the rule of law must prevail regardless of political affiliation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Kwankwaso criticised the government’s response to Obi’s recent comments about his safety, saying no Nigerian should be mocked for raising legitimate security concerns.
“Like every Nigerian, our presidential candidate and all of us deserve the full protection of the state, not ridicule for raising legitimate concerns,” Kwankwaso said.
He added that a responsible government should protect its citizens rather than dismiss or mock their fears.
Kwankwaso also expressed concern over the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying every Nigerian is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court.
“Malam El-Rufai, like every Nigerian, is entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty,” he stated.
The former Kano governor further urged the Federal Government to handle both cases with transparency, accountability and fairness, warning against using state institutions to settle political differences.
His remarks come after Peter Obi alleged during an interview that he feared for his safety and claimed his businesses had suffered because of his role in the opposition. The comments were dismissed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which described the claims as unfounded.
Kwankwaso’s statement also follows growing public debate over El-Rufai’s detention and calls for his case to be handled in line with constitutional provisions.
Source: Statement by Rabiu Kwankwaso.
