The All Progressives Congress 2027 senatorial candidate for Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has said embattled ex-governor Nasir El-Rufai is paying for his misgovernance and irresponsibility during his two-term tenure in Kaduna State.

“I read some of the statements attributed to him. He has been detained for more than 200 days. I think it’s natural to lose friends when you’re out of circulation. El-Rufai is paying the price of his misgovernance and irresponsibility when he was in public office,” Mr Sani stated during a Friday interview on Channels TV.

Mr Sani accused the embattled governor of disobeying court orders while jailing opposition leaders, critics and religious leaders indiscriminately.

He stated, “I have heard many comments from people raising sympathy for him. But this is my take. When you’re in office, always remind yourself that it’s an opportunity and it’s temporary. He was in office, had no respect for rule of law. He didn’t obey court orders. Today, he’s found himself in a place where he took people to.

“There are Christian leaders in Kajuru who were arrested and detained for months. There were religious leaders in Zaria who were jailed. I was the one who brought them out. Look at what happened to members of Islamic Movement.”

The ex-lawmaker’s comments trailed Mr El- Rufai’s letter where he lamented that he felt abandoned and betrayed by close allies whom he helped and made sacrifices for in the past as he now languishes in detention over a wiretapping allegation.

“As for any injustice, ingratitude or injury done to me, I seek neither revenge nor retribution. Ultimate accountability belongs to Almighty Allah, and I leave that judgment to Him, in this world and in the Hereafter.

“Over the years, I have stood by people and for causes I believed in, sometimes in difficult circumstances and at considerable personal cost. I did so not in expectation of praise, gratitude or reciprocity, but because I believed it was right. Those were choices I made freely, and I remain answerable for them,” the former Kaduna State governor stated.

Mr El-Rufai has remained in detention since February 18 following a probe by the nation’s anti-graft agencies into alleged N432 billion money laundering based on a petition by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

He is also facing trial by the State Security Service (SSS) for allegedly tapping the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.