•Aso Rock
President Bola Tinubu yesterday met behind closed-doors with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tanudeen Abbas, the governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The agenda of the meeting was not made public, but it came on the heels of the recent incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where it was reported that attempts were made to arrest the former governor of Kaduna state and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, reports Saturday Vanguard.
Mallam el-Rufai, who was a foundation member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and one of the governors who played a prominent role in the election of President Tinubu in 2023, fell apart with the government after he was dropped as a ministerial nominee.
Since then, he has remained a fierce critic of Tinubu’s administration and has promised to work with like-minded to ensure that the President didn’t get a second term.
Security operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were alleged to have attempted to detain the former Kaduna state governor upon his arrival from Cairo on Thursday.
Sources close to Mallam el-Rufai claimed the attempt was made without a formal warrant or prior invitation, an action his aides described as a breach of due process.
It was further alleged that his international passport was temporarily seized during the incident, a claim yet to be officially confirmed by the relevant security agencies.
While it remains unclear whether the airport episode formed part of the discussions at the Presidential Villa, observers noted the timing of the meeting has heightened public interest and speculation.
As of press time, officials of the Presidency did not comment on the agenda or outcome of the deliberations.
The President also met with the Kwara state governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq the governor of Benue state, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia and the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of God is Good Motors, Chidi Ajaere.
While the Kwara State governor left with the NSA, the Benue State governor, who left after declined to grant interview.
