Lauretta Onochie, a former media aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, has called for the immediate release of Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that his prolonged detention signals political persecution and intimidation of opposition figures in Nigeria.
In a post shared on X, Onochie described the detention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain as a dangerous precedent for the country’s democratic system. She stressed that dissenting voices should be countered with ideas, not imprisonment.
“In every democracy, opposition voices must be challenged with ideas, not silenced with prison walls. When political participation becomes grounds for persecution, democracy itself is placed on trial,” Onochie said.
She alleged that El-Rufai had been held in custody for months over charges widely seen as politically motivated. Reports suggesting his release might hinge on returning to the ruling APC or leaving politics, she said, amount to coercion disguised as justice.
“That is not justice. That is coercion. That is political intimidation dressed up as due process,” Onochie added.
Highlighting the broader implications, she warned that Nigeria cannot claim true democracy if citizens face punishment for opposing those in power. She emphasized the fundamental right to political association and participation, insisting that no citizen should have to barter freedom for political surrender.
Onochie urged authorities to either prosecute El-Rufai fairly in a competent court or release him on bail pending the case’s resolution. “If there is a credible case against him, let it be heard openly, fairly, and speedily. Continued detention under questionable circumstances only fuels public suspicion that the state is weaponizing its power against opposition figures,” she said.
The former aide framed the issue as a crucial test for Nigeria’s democracy. “This is bigger than Nasir El-Rufai. It is about the soul of Nigerian democracy. A democracy that jails opposition voices today may have no opposition left tomorrow. A nation without opposition is a nation under dictatorship,” Onochie concluded.