Atiku argued that what transpired at the airport negates the principle that “society is based on the rule of law.”
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the attempt by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, branding the move a “national embarrassment.”
The former Vice President criticized the action on Thursday during a solidarity visit to El-Rufai at his Abuja residence.
Atiku’s visit follows an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where operatives allegedly tried to detain El-Rufai shortly after his arrival from Cairo, Egypt, on Egypt Air flight MS 877.
The incident has since sparked mixed reactions across the country, particularly on social media.
Speaking during the visit, Atiku argued that the airport confrontation negates the principle that “society is based on the rule of law,” adding that there was no justification for such harassment.
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He suggested that the security agency should have allowed the former governor to return home before issuing a formal invitation for questioning.
“The society is based on the rule of law; there was no need for El-Rufai to be embarrassed or for an attempted abduction,” Atiku said.
He added, “They should have allowed you to go home and then invited you. You have held high positions in government—you were a Minister and a Governor—and you performed your functions successfully.
“There was no need to embarrass you because, by doing so, they are embarrassing the whole society. We will stand by you and every law-abiding citizen of Nigeria.”
Prior to Atiku’s arrival, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi had also visited El-Rufai in a similar show of solidarity.
