Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over "Thallium Letter," Says El-Rufai Trying To Destabilise Nigeria, Create Political Tension

Bayo Onauga 

The Presidency has reacted sharply to the recent open letter by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing his inquiries into the alleged procurement of toxic chemicals as a calculated attempt to destabilise the country. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, took to his official X handle to dismiss the "Thallium Letter," suggesting it was a deliberate smokescreen meant to create unnecessary political tension and overshadow serious allegations of corruption linked to El-Rufai’s tenure in Kaduna State.

​In the same vein, the friction between the Presidency and the former governor has escalated beyond the chemical procurement saga to include allegations of illegal surveillance. Onanuga has called for a thorough investigation into a separate admission by El-Rufai on national television, where he claimed to have accessed an intercepted phone conversation involving NSA Nuhu Ribadu. Onanuga described the disclosure as a "confession" to illegal wire-tapping, questioning whether the former governor and his unnamed "collaborators" possess unauthorized surveillance facilities that pose a threat to national security.

​"El-Rufai confesses to wire-tapping Nigeria's NSA on TV. This should be thoroughly investigated and punishment meted out. El-Rufai is not too big to face the wrath of the law," Onanuga stated. While El-Rufai's son, Bashir, has since clarified that his father did not personally tap the phone but was merely an unsolicited recipient of the information, presidential aides maintain that any unauthorized interception of the country’s top security official is a grave violation of national security protocols.

​Consequently, the exchange follows El-Rufai's formal request for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to clarify reports regarding the importation of thallium sulphate—a highly toxic substance. In a swift rebuttal, the ONSA, through Brigadier-General O.M. Adesuyi, categorically denied ever procuring or initiating the purchase of such a material. The security office has now challenged the former governor to provide verifiable evidence of his claims to the Department of State Services (DSS) for a comprehensive investigation.

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