Aisha Yesufu Says Peter Obi Did not Order El-Rufai’s Arrest

Political activist and #BringBackOurGirls co-convener, Aisha Yesufu, has refuted claims that former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, ordered the arrest of ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, during Obi’s tenure.

Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Yesufu clarified that El-Rufai was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Anambra, and not on Obi’s orders.

Her response came after Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohonbamu, referenced the 2013 incident while defending Governor Monday Okpebholo’s controversial remarks warning Obi not to return to Edo State.

“The governor said what he said very clearly, and that is a threat to life,” Yesufu stated. “Beyond that is the fact that the Edo State Government came out with a statement where they said he wasn’t threatening him but that Obi needs to tell them when he is coming and also get security clearance.”

She criticised the governor’s stance, saying: “I don’t know what gives Governor Okpebholo the audacity that he can give security clearances for any Nigerian to be able to come to Edo State. Edo State is not his family estate. Yes, he currently might be the one governing the state, but he doesn’t have the right to give anybody clearance to be anywhere.”

Addressing the El-Rufai controversy, she said: “There was also something in the statement released by the Edo State Government based on the threat the governor had made to Mr Peter Obi, where he was saying he is not like Mr Peter Obi who got El-Rufai arrested in Anambra State.

That statement is not factual. Mr Peter Obi never arrested the former Governor of Kaduna State. He was arrested in Anambra State, but he was arrested by the DSS, and the order from above from the set-right never had anything to do with Mr Peter Obi.”

In November 2013, El-Rufai, then a senior figure in the APC, was detained in his hotel by DSS officials while attempting to monitor the Anambra governorship election. The DSS later said the detention was based on “security concerns.”

Yesufu’s comments come amid growing political tension following Governor Okpebholo’s remarks over Obi’s recent visit to Benin City.