Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said he holds no hatred or resentment against former colleagues, friends and associates who have chosen to remain silent or distance themselves from him during his current difficulties.
El-Rufai made his position known in a personal statement titled “My Relationships and the Aftermath,” which he published on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. In the statement, the former governor reflected on his relationships, past support for others and how some people have responded to his present circumstances.
The former governor and ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory said his decision to support people and causes over the years was driven by his Islamic faith, Arewa upbringing, personal principles and conscience.
According to him, he did not offer support because he expected gratitude, recognition or future reciprocity. Rather, he said he acted whenever he genuinely believed that doing so was the right thing.
El-Rufai acknowledged that people he had previously supported were entitled to determine how they would respond to his current situation. He noted that some could speak publicly, others could choose silence, while some might distance themselves from relationships they once maintained.
He said he did not intend to judge such individuals simply because their reactions differed from what he or others might have expected.
Reflecting on the lessons from his recent experiences, El-Rufai said difficult periods can reveal important truths about relationships. He acknowledged that his present circumstances had caused him to reassess some relationships and consider the expectations placed on people who look up to him.
However, he stressed that such reflection should not be interpreted as an attack or condemnation of anyone.
For El-Rufai, reassessing relationships is simply part of gaining a clearer understanding of people and life, particularly during challenging periods.
The former governor also made it clear that he has no regrets about supporting people or causes whenever he believed his actions were justified.
He said he would rather remain committed to the principles that have guided his conduct than allow the actions of other people to alter his own values.
On perceived injustice, ingratitude or injuries he may have suffered, El-Rufai said he was not interested in retaliation.
He said he would leave ultimate accountability to Almighty Allah, both in this world and in the Hereafter, rather than pursue revenge or retribution.
El-Rufai concluded by saying that his major concern was to remain at peace with his conscience and with Almighty Allah.
His statement comes amid ongoing legal challenges involving the former governor. A Federal High Court in Abuja recently fixed October 26, 2026, to rule on his no-case submission in an alleged unlawful telephone-interception case. El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.
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Ultimately, El-Rufai’s message was that the choices of former associates would not determine the principles by which he chooses to live. He said each person would have to live with the consequences of their decisions, while posterity would ultimately form its own assessment of events.
