Immediate-past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru el-Rufai, has firmly stated that he can swear on the Holy Qur’an that he never embezzled funds during his tenure. Speaking on an Hausa program on Freedom Radio Kaduna, el-Rufai challenged his predecessors to do the same if they are confident in their integrity.
“I did not join politics to steal money or enrich myself. I was satisfied with what I had before becoming governor,” el-Rufai asserted. He emphasized that his political career has always been about serving the people, not personal gain. El-Rufai also expressed his willingness to prove his innocence by swearing with the Qur’an, inviting former governors and current leaders to take the same oath.
The former governor further noted that he has consistently prayed for guidance in his actions, striving to maintain a clear conscience in his political endeavors. His comments come amid ongoing discussions about corruption among public officials, as he aims to distinguish his record from that of others in political office.
“I have always prayed for guidance in all I do, and I strive not to betray the trust of the people. Whenever the former governors of Kaduna State and other leaders are ready to swear with the Qur’an that they never misappropriated public funds, I will join them. I have no fear because I know I never took money that belonged to the people.
“My administration has been accused without any clear evidence of where the money went missing or who took it. My allies are being targeted and invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of a smear campaign against me.
“I have left everything to Allah’s judgment. I have prayed and will remain silent on the issue. I have instructed my lawyers to take legal action against those tarnishing my name, but for now, I’m focused on my activities like reading and writing.
“I will continue to serve the people. You don’t need to hold a position in government to serve. We are still working with like-minded individuals who genuinely want to serve the people, not those seeking to enrich themselves.
“I intend to return to politics in 2027 after completing my studies. There is no retirement in politics. By the will of Allah, we will return and continue serving the people.
“I was quiet to see how things would turn out, but for me, I always ask Allah to help me in whatever I do in life because, as a human being, I always try not to do anything wrong or betray people’s trust.
“I always say that whenever the former governors of Kaduna State and other leaders decide to take an oath swearing with the Quran that they never took people’s money, I’m also ready to swear. This is because I know that I didn’t go into public service to steal or take people’s money.
“I joined politics only to serve the people of Kaduna State; I didn’t come to look for money, because I give glory to Allah that I’m contended with what I had even before becoming governor. Yet, we were accused of misappropriation of funds during our tenure without being given a specific area where the money went missing or who took it.
“I already prayed two Raka’at on Friday night, leaving everything to Allah seeking His judgment. This is why I’m not saying much about the issue,” he stressed.
