Nigerian human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has issued a sharp criticism of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following statements in which the ex-governor claimed he could face arrest at any moment.
The activist described these remarks as ironic, arguing that El-Rufai himself presided over an administration widely accused of repressing dissent and intimidating critics.
Speaking on Wednesday, Adeyanju asserted that El-Rufai lacks moral authority to speak about intimidation or threats of arrest.
He noted that during El-Rufai’s tenure in Kaduna State, government critics were routinely harassed, detained, or silenced, often without due process.
According to the human rights lawyer, this environment cultivated a culture of fear, discouraging citizens from expressing their opinions freely.
A central example highlighted by Adeyanju is the unresolved disappearance of social media commentator and government critic, Abubakar Idris, widely known as Dadiyata.
He recalled that Dadiyata was reportedly abducted in front of his wife and daughter, and his whereabouts remain unknown to this day. For Adeyanju, this case illustrates the pers
onal risks faced by individuals who openly challenged policies or leadership decisions in Kaduna State under El-Rufai.
“Dadiyata was abducted in front of his wife and daughter and disappeared till today without a trace,” Adeyanju said.
“His case shows the dangers faced by outspoken critics during El-Rufai’s administration.”
He emphasized that Dadiyata’s disappearance is not an isolated incident, but rather emblematic of a broader pattern of targeting dissenters.
According to Adeyanju, many other individuals who criticised El-Rufai’s policies or public decisions were similarly arrested or intimidated.
He painted a picture of a government intolerant of opposition, where expressing dissent was met with punitive actions rather than dialogue.
“El-Rufai arrested everyone who criticised him in Kaduna,” Adeyanju noted, stressing that the former governor’s intolerance for criticism was widespread and systematic.
The human rights lawyer also framed his critique within Nigeria’s broader political landscape.
He suggested that shifting alliances and changing power dynamics have exposed contradictions among political elites.
“The oppressors of yesterday are now comrades,” Adeyanju remarked, pointing to the irony of former leaders presenting themselves as victims of the same pressures they once imposed on others.
In highlighting this irony, Adeyanju contrasted El-Rufai’s current warnings of potential arrest with his past record in office.
While the ex-governor now portrays himself as a potential target of state repression, Adeyanju stressed that it was under his leadership that critics were detained, harassed, or disappeared.
This, he argued, undermines El-Rufai’s credibility when discussing threats or intimidation in today’s political climate.
The activist’s comments also touched on the importance of safeguarding human rights and upholding democratic principles in Kaduna State and across Nigeria.
He called for accountability for past abuses, particularly in cases like Dadiyata’s disappearance, which remain unresolved despite years of public attention.
“A society that does not protect critics risks normalising fear and undermining democracy,” Adeyanju said, emphasizing the need for transparency and justice.
Adeyanju’s statements have added fuel to ongoing debates about political accountability in Nigeria.
Beyond political critique, Adeyanju framed his argument around the broader struggle for human rights in Nigeria.
He urged citizens to remain vigilant, stressing that the protection of critics and activists is crucial for democracy to thrive.
In his words, “We must ensure that no leader, past or present, uses state power to suppress dissent. The lessons of Kaduna State must be remembered.”
As the discourse around El-Rufai’s comments continues, Adeyanju’s critique underscores the tension between Nigeria’s past governance practices and contemporary political claims.
His statements serve both as a warning against repeating historical patterns of repression and as a call for stronger accountability mechanisms to protect critics, activists, and ordinary citizens alike.
“El-Rufai said they are planning to arrest him soon. El-Rufai arrested everyone who criticised him in Kaduna. His critic Dadiyata, who was abducted in front of his wife and daughter, disappeared till today without trace.
The oppressors of yesterday are now comrades,” Adeyanju concluded, reiterating his central point about the irony and dangers inherent in ignoring past abuses.
Adeyanju’s remarks provide a strong critique of El-Rufai’s tenure in Kaduna State, highlighting alleged human rights violations, intimidation of critics, and the unresolved disappearance of Dadiyata.
His observations contribute to the wider conversation on political accountability, freedom of expression, and the protection of dissent in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.
Ireport247news
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