Political activist and #BringBackOurGirls co-convener, Aisha Yesufu, has debunked claims that Peter Obi ordered the arrest of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, during Obi’s time as Anambra governor. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Yesufu clarified that the Department of State Services (DSS) was responsible for El-Rufai’s detention, not Obi.
Yesufu’s comments followed Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohonbamu’s reference to the 2013 incident while defending Governor Monday Okpebholo’s warning that Obi should not visit Edo without prior security clearance.
“The governor said what he said very clearly, and that is a threat to life,” Yesufu stated. “Edo State is not his family estate. Yes, he might be governing now, but he has no right to demand clearance for any Nigerian to visit the state.”
She dismissed Okpebholo’s claim linking Obi to El-Rufai’s detention, stressing that, “Mr. Peter Obi never arrested the former Governor of Kaduna State. He was arrested in Anambra State, but it was by the DSS, and Obi had nothing to do with it.”
The Real Story Behind El-Rufai’s 2013 Arrest
In November 2013, during the Anambra governorship election, El-Rufai, then a top figure in the APC—was stopped by DSS officials and detained in Awka. He had claimed he was there as an election observer, but security agencies cited “security concerns” as the reason for holding him.
Yesufu’s clarification comes amid growing political tension following Okpebholo’s remarks about Obi’s visit to Benin City. Her statement directly challenges the narrative pushed by the Edo government and highlights the need for accurate historical facts in political discourse.
Peter Obi Never Ordered El-Rufai’s Arrest – Aisha Yesufu
This statement is central to the ongoing political conversation. The attempt to link Obi to El-Rufai’s 2013 detention is being used to justify recent threats against Obi, but Yesufu’s response is a reminder of how misinformation often fuels political conflicts. The focus now shifts to Governor Okpebholo’s controversial claim that Obi requires his “security clearance” to visit Edo State, a claim many see as an abuse of power.
