A former deputy speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Alhaji Muktar Isa-Hazo, has come out to refute claims that former governor Nasir El-Rufai was abandoned by his associates amid his trial. Isa-Hazo, a staunch ally of El-Rufai, stated that the former governor's associates did not abandon him but rather parted ways with him politically after he joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Isa-Hazo himself remains an associate of El-Rufai but differs with him on political alignment.
Isa-Hazo explained that while El-Rufai joined the ADC, his associates remained in their respective political camps, insisting that they were still together with him. He emphasized that nobody had abandoned the former governor and that the people he needed most were with him when it mattered. According to Isa-Hazo, some individuals were taking advantage of El-Rufai's situation to assert themselves, while others claimed to be with him despite having different political alignments.
The former deputy speaker alleged that some people around El-Rufai considered his new political alignment a good omen, while those who genuinely loved and cared about him believed it was not the right move. He also noted that some of El-Rufai's associates had returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) because individuals who previously opposed the former governor were now attempting to associate themselves with him.
Isa-Hazo attributed El-Rufai's current situation to misinformation, stating that the former governor had been misled. He argued that El-Rufai's detention had limited his access to information about developments outside, and he was relying on information provided by those close to him. According to Isa-Hazo, El-Rufai had not contacted his genuine associates to give them political direction, either before or since his detention.
The former deputy speaker maintained that El-Rufai had not been abandoned by his associates, explaining that political alignments had shifted and everyone was now following their individual political choices. He emphasized that each person follows their own mind and thinks about what is right for them to do. Isa-Hazo also alleged that some individuals were using El-Rufai's name despite having different political alignments.
Isa-Hazo's comments come as a reaction to El-Rufai's claim that some of his associates and friends had abandoned him or remained silent amid his trial. The former governor's family members have also been accused of misleading him while in detention. Isa-Hazo's statements suggest that El-Rufai's associates remain loyal but have differing political views.
The development highlights the complexities of Nigerian politics, where alliances and party affiliations can shift rapidly. As El-Rufai navigates his trial and new political landscape, the loyalty and support of his associates will likely continue to be scrutinized. Key issues, including El-Rufai's detention and trial, and the shifting political landscape in Kaduna State, will likely continue to unfold.
Key points
- El-Rufai's associates claim he was misled amid his trial.
- Isa-Hazo denies claims that El-Rufai was abandoned by his associates.
- El-Rufai's detention has limited his access to information about developments outside.
