Professor Usman Yusuf, a public affairs analyst and professor of hematology and oncology, has described former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai as a “political prisoner” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the former governor would not be jailed despite ongoing political tensions.
Yusuf made the remarks during an interview on Naija Unfiltered, a Symfoni podcast, where he discussed the rising political tension in Northern Nigeria and the unfolding political dynamics ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, the political atmosphere in the North is increasingly charged as many voters who supported the current administration in 2023 are beginning to express frustration over governance issues.
“The politics of the North is heating up. People are realizing we are fed up,” Yusuf said during the interview.
He argued that the worst mistake any political leader could make was to alienate the same constituency that overwhelmingly supported them during elections.
“The worst thing any politician anywhere can do is to anger the constituency that gave you more than 60 percent of their votes,” he said.
Yusuf further alleged that the federal government was deploying anti-corruption and security agencies to silence critics and opposition voices, a development he warned could undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
According to him, agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the police must remain independent rather than serve as political tools.
“These agencies were created for noble purposes, but politicians are now using them as instruments to suppress dissent,” he said.
The former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) also shared his personal experience with law enforcement authorities, alleging that he was previously detained in what he described as an attempt to intimidate him for criticizing the government.
He insisted that such actions could weaken democratic institutions if not addressed.
Commenting specifically on El-Rufai’s political situation, Yusuf dismissed the allegations reportedly brought against the former governor, describing them as weak and incapable of standing legal scrutiny.
“I have seen the charges. They are laughable,” he said.
He maintained that the former Kaduna governor would ultimately clear his name in court.
“El-Rufai is Tinubu’s political prisoner, but he will not go to jail,” Yusuf declared.
Yusuf noted that El-Rufai played a significant role in mobilizing support in Northern Nigeria during the 2023 presidential election, arguing that the region contributed a substantial portion of the votes that secured Tinubu’s victory.
He therefore questioned why political tensions had escalated between the former allies.
“If there is one person the president should thank for becoming president, it is El-Rufai,” he said.
According to him, the former Kaduna governor was instrumental in persuading northern political stakeholders to support the power rotation that eventually led to Tinubu’s emergence as president.
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Yusuf also dismissed the argument that opposition voices should remain silent because of El-Rufai’s controversial record while serving as governor of Kaduna State.
He said standing against perceived injustice should not depend on personal political differences.
“Whatever he did as governor is separate. Nobody deserves to be persecuted politically,” he stated.
The analyst warned that suppressing dissent in a democratic system could create deeper political divisions, especially in a country as politically sensitive as Nigeria.
He stressed that democratic governance requires tolerance for criticism and opposition voices.
“A secure leader allows criticism. But an insecure leader tries to silence everybody,” he said.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Yusuf suggested that political developments in Northern Nigeria could significantly influence the outcome of the next presidential race.
He warned that attempts to manipulate electoral outcomes in regions where public dissatisfaction is growing could trigger serious political tensions.
“If people vote one way and results show something different, there will be trouble,” he cautioned.
Yusuf concluded by urging Nigerian leaders to respect democratic principles and listen to the concerns of citizens rather than rely on political intimidation.
“The will of the people must prevail. History shows that governments that ignore the people rarely end well,” he said.
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