Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has levelled serious allegations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of unlawfully deducting ₦100 billion every month from the Federation Account over the past 15 months without the backing of the Nigerian Constitution or legislative approval.
Speaking during a now-viral interview on Arise TV, which has since circulated widely on social media—especially on X (formerly Twitter) via the handle @omoluabi1sq—El-Rufai alleged that the monthly withdrawals amount to a staggering ₦1.5 trillion, a figure he described as not only unconstitutional but worthy of impeachment proceedings.
“Every month, President Bola Tinubu deducts ₦100 billion from the Federation Account. This is unconstitutional and an impeachable offence,” El-Rufai declared.
No Transparency, No Results
According to the former minister and ex-governor, the funds in question are reportedly funneled to security agencies, yet there has been no tangible improvement in the country’s security situation.
“For the last 12 to 18 months, every single month, ₦100 billion is taken out of the federation account and allocated to security agencies. If that is the case, then why is there no visible progress in curbing insecurity?” El-Rufai asked.
He went on to challenge the lack of legislative oversight, noting that both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly were not consulted or granted the authority to approve such huge expenditures.
“The deductions are being made without any appropriation—either from the National Assembly or from State Assemblies. This is a clear violation of constitutional procedures and a gross abuse of executive powers,” he stated.
Grim Security Comparisons and Absence of Federal Projects
Delving further into Nigeria’s deteriorating security crisis, El-Rufai painted a troubling picture by comparing recent statistics to earlier periods under President Buhari.
“In 2014, over 2.2 million Nigerians were kidnapped and over 615,000 killed. Are we at war? The numbers we are seeing now are worse than what we had under the Buhari administration,” he noted grimly.
He also accused the current administration of failing to launch or complete any new federal projects, despite receiving record-level revenues compared to previous governments.
“President Tinubu travelled to Kaduna to commission projects—90% of which were projects I initiated and completed. In almost two years, this administration hasn’t started or finished any new federal project, despite having access to more funds than any administration before it,” El-Rufai claimed.
Weak Oversight for Political Gains?
In a further indictment of Tinubu’s leadership, El-Rufai alleged that the federal government has deliberately weakened its oversight of state-level projects as part of a political strategy to keep state governors loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“There is very little federal oversight on state-level development projects right now. Why? Because the president wants to ensure all governors remain within the APC fold. It’s politics before governance,” he added.
Public Reaction: Outrage, Skepticism, and Mixed Emotions
El-Rufai’s explosive remarks have triggered a wave of reactions from Nigerians online, with some expressing fury over the alleged constitutional breaches and lack of accountability in government spending.
While many citizens welcomed his candid revelations, others questioned the timing and motive behind his sudden criticism, especially considering El-Rufai's prominent role in supporting Tinubu's presidential bid during the 2023 elections.
“Where was this El-Rufai when Nigerians were raising concerns months ago?” one user on X asked. “Is this sincerity or strategic distancing?”
The allegations, if true, could significantly dent the credibility of Tinubu’s government, raising fresh calls for transparency, legislative intervention, and even potential impeachment proceedings.
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