Vindicated, but no grudges…

Mallam Nasir el Rufai welcomes the verdict of the court, discharging and acquitting him of the charges he has faced  since 2008. It is a vindication he never doubted will come, confident in his innocence and the integrity with which he served this country. He thanks his family and friends who have stood by him through this harrowing process, and some of whom suffered bruises in the process. He is also grateful to his legal team and the many Nigerians who tried to uphold him with their prayers and words of encouragement.

This trial has been a needless burden. Today’s judgement exonerating him of the criminal charges is coming a few months after another court upheld the actions he took as minister in the civil suit that ought to have been the proper platform for the issues that were improperly twisted into a criminal trial.

Despite the magnitude of the pains he has endured, El Rufai has decided to put all this in the past. He intends to move on, stepping confidently into the future with forgiveness and goodwill, devoid of the cobwebs of grudge.

He hopes that the government and political elite of Nigeria would forswear persecution as a political instrument. The powers of government should always be deployed only for the purposes of discharging the responsibility to govern. Leaders should subordinate their egos to the higher ideals of democracy which embraces dissent and criticism.

El Rufai urges all Nigerians to strive for and to cherish the unity of our country. He will continue to work with other Nigerians to realise the opportunity that continues to beckon to make this country a place of attainment, of meritocracy, prosperity and development.

Signed

Muyiwa Adekeye
Media Advisor to Mallam Nasir el Rufai
13 December 2013