MURIC Demands Release of Nasir El-Rufai, Citing His Role in Securing the Presidency for Southern Nigeria

MURIC Executive Director Ishaq Akintola argues Nasir El-Rufai gave Southerners the presidency and deserves better treatment than current detention.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 6:41 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from NewsDiary Online

A Campaign for Judicial and Political Reciprocity

In a press release issued on Monday, March 23, 2026, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) made a bold defense of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, describing him as a "True Nationalist" who sacrificed his regional political standing to ensure a power shift to the South. The group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, asserted that the embattled former governor deserves better treatment from the current administration, given his pivotal role in the 2023 electoral victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. MURIC argued that the political class must acknowledge El-Rufai’s contributions rather than allowing him to face what they term "socio-economic persecution" behind bars.

The "Handshake Across the Niger" Strategy

MURIC detailed its historical involvement in the 2023 presidential project, noting that it was the first group to demand a Yoruba Muslim president as far back as February 2021. Realizing that Southern support alone would be insufficient, the group networked with Northern leaders, identifying El-Rufai as the only politician with the "political acumen" to unite the North behind a Southern candidate. This "handshake across the Niger" reportedly resulted in a general mobilization of Northern APC governors, a move that effectively counteracted attempts to keep the presidency in the North after the expiration of the previous administration's tenure.

Defiance of Internal Party Pressures

The statement highlighted El-Rufai’s public defiance of the then-incumbent's preferences for a Northern successor. MURIC praised El-Rufai for his bold rejection of regional hegemony and his open opposition to the controversial naira redesign policy implemented by former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele. According to Akintola, these actions were not merely administrative but were strategic maneuvers designed to clear the path for the Southern presidency. The group cited these historical instances as proof that El-Rufai’s current predicament is an unjust response to his previous political courage.