My SSS interrogation session was boring –El-Rufai

    
A former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who was on Monday interrogated by the State Security Service for about 15 hours, has described the experience as “boring.”

The SSS had questioned el-Rufai for allegedly making statements, which it deemed capable of inciting Nigerians to violence in 2015.

Spokesman to the former FCT minister and Interim Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Muyiwa Adekeye, had posted a message on Twitter at about 12:40am on Tuesday, announcing that his boss was released in the wee hours of the day.

“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai left the SSS premises at 12:35 am today (Tuesday) after more than 15 hours,” Adekeye had tweeted.

Responding to questions from his social media fans after he was released, El-Rufai said the SSS interrogation was “great fun but boring” while it lasted.

He described the challenges he was having, especially in the hands of the SSS, as part of “life” and vowed not to give in to intimidation, “lawlessness and impunity.”

El-Rufai agreed with many of his fans that the date of the 2015 presidential elections, scheduled to hold on Valentine’s Day, will encourage voter apathy on the part of the youths.

He accused the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Federal Government of attempting to manipulate the electoral process by doing so.

“They have definite plans to rig the elections in Ekiti and Osun states in 2014, and the entire nation in 2015. We will not be intimidated into silence!” he tweeted.

Quoting the famous Irish political theorist and philosopher, Edmund Burke, El-Rufai said, “The only thing necessary for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing. That is the challenge we face in Nigeria!”

He also hinted that he was travelling from Abuja to Lagos after his ordeal in the hands of the SSS. “On my way to Lagos,” he stated in a message to one of his followers.

The APC leader noted on Twitter that his political party would commence the registration of its members on February 5, 2014 in “every polling unit” in the country.

“Young people, help yourself to win and create a Nigeria of your dreams. Resist looting and impunity?  Registration starts February 5.  Please come along with two passport photographs if above 18 years old!” he said.

Also, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State came under attack from critics on social media after a photograph showing him in the process of driving El-Rufai to the SSS headquarters appeared online.

Although Amaechi had said that he drove the former minister to the SSS office, based on the instruction handed down to him by the leadership of the APC, some Nigerians did not find his explanation tenable.

On nairaland.com where the picture was posted, many members of the forum said they were torn between describing Amaechi as a cab driver and an elected state governor.

“Amaechi, I thought you were a state governor. Have you become a cab driver?” Segun Bills asked.

Another member of the forum with the name South South Man, said, “Why should he (Amaechi) turn himself into El-Rufai’s driver in an attempt to convince the leadership of APC that he is loyal to the party?

“We can make him get back to governance by telling him the truth: which is stopping him from doing things like acting as El-Rufai’s body guard and driver.  I am not against him defecting to the APC, but I think he can still keep the Rivers State pride by playing politics with respect.”

Meanwhile, the State Security Service has been urged not to allow itself to be used as an intimidating agent against the opposition as the 2015 election draws near.

On Facebook, one Abdullahi Aminu-Mudi said, “I believe it is high time the SSS maintained its neutrality in the polity. All institutions, such as the SSS, should be neutral in all their engagements. They should never allow themselves to be used for partisan undertakings.

“They should always remember that political power is ephemeral and temporal. Above that, life in itself is transient and short. They should bear it in mind that power comes and slips away and its drunkards fade away. Those they see today as opposition may emerge as leaders tomorrow. They may be in charge tomorrow and you will be made to account for your actions.”

Copyright PUNCH.