Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has launched a scathing attack on former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of persecuting Christians and systematically marginalising Christian communities throughout his eight-year tenure. The allegations, made on Monday, August 24, 2026, during a meeting with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the North, have intensified the bitter political feud between the two prominent figures and reopened old wounds over the administration of one of Nigeria's most polarising former governors.
Addressing northern Christian leaders, including CAN Chairman Rev. Joseph Hayab and his executive council, Fani-Kayode claimed that under El-Rufai's watch, Christians were killed, entire communities were denied development funds, and Christian leaders were subjected to insults and contempt. He asserted that the former governor's actions went far beyond political disagreements, amounting to outright discrimination and persecution of the faith.
In a particularly explosive segment of his address, Fani-Kayode labelled El-Rufai a "monster" and accused him of harbouring a deep-seated hatred for Christians with the intent to "destroy and kill believers and wipe out our faith". "That guy terrorised Southern Kaduna for eight years. He terrorised Christians for eight years," Fani-Kayode declared, adding that Christians were "slaughtered," and their communities were denied their rightful allocations and development.
The ambassador also detailed alleged instances of institutional contempt, claiming that El-Rufai's former deputy, Barnabas Bala Bantex, was repeatedly insulted for his Christian faith during cabinet meetings. He further stated that Muslim associates had also contacted him to complain about policies and statements made by the former governor.
Central to Fani-Kayode's narrative was the contrasting role of the current Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani. Describing Sani as a "fair-minded" individual without discriminatory tendencies, Fani-Kayode claimed that Sani, who served as El-Rufai's Special Adviser, had privately expressed concern about the treatment of Christians. He alleged that Sani informed him about what he described as El-Rufai's "objectionable designs" against both Christians and Muslims, adding that there were "so many things" that he had been told but chose not to disclose.
Fani-Kayode framed Sani's emergence as governor as a divine intervention to correct the injustices of the previous administration. He recalled a conversation with Sani, stating that the governor told him, "you have no idea the sort of things that guy had in mind for members of the Christian faith and also even for Muslims in his state".
El-Rufai has not yet publicly responded to the latest allegations. The former governor, who served two terms from 2015 to 2023, has previously faced similar accusations, which he has consistently denied, often attributing them to political opposition. This latest attack comes amid a growing political rift between El-Rufai and his successor, Uba Sani. Fani-Kayode, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress, maintained that his criticism was not based on party politics but on his religious convictions. He stated, "There's something that comes before politics, comes before anything, and that is God". His remarks have been met with a mix of support and skepticism, with some hailing his courage and others questioning the timing and political motives behind the allegations.
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