Former Minister of Education, Madam Oby Ezekwesili, has revealed that Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, was planning to take Audu Maikori to court on Monday before she intervened.
Ezekwesili, in a series of tweets posted today, also said she had pleaded with El-Rufai to accept Maikori’s apology for posting false information about the Southern Kaduna crisis online.
She wrote: “I urged the @GovKaduna to get @Audu out & he replied that his policy of Consequences was important for stemming killings in #SouthernKaduna.
“The @GovKaduna stated that the actions for which @Audu apologized inflamed the#SouthKaduna conflict more & so the law taking its course.
“I asked the @GovKaduna to consider @Audu ‘s apology and his unfortunate arrest as a TEACHABLE MOMENT for both the Government & everyone.
“People already know how stridently I insist on EVIDENCE-BASED ADVOCACY. WE all must take a LESSON from this. @GovKaduna @Audu. #LESSON
“There’s no basis for a Govt clamp down on Citizens’ FACT-BASED advocacy on ANY ISSUE. So @Audu admitted he was WRONG. Accept it @GovKaduna
“I told @GovKaduna that it was best to FREE @Audu & use this as the Govt’s POLICY MOMENT to get its MESSAGE of CONSEQUENCES thru to Public.
“@GovKaduna stated that he had personally reached out asking @Audu to not post those particularly untrue stories but he had continued.
“I pressed on the NECESSITY for@GovKaduna to act to FREE @Audu and allow all sides to LEARN the RIGHT LESSON from this painful episode.
“At the end of our discussion,@GovKaduna agreed to ACT and FREE@Audu quickly and end this unfortunate development. WILL WATCH OUT FOR IT.
“@GovKaduna had stated that @Auduwould be charged to court on Monday. I urged that since he already apologized,Police can CAUTION & RELEASE.
“Upon release today, I very much hope that @GovKaduna and @Audu can find points of COLLABORATION on#SouthernKaduna after this sad episode.
“All folks on the two sides of the divide baying for blood really must know that Nigeria CANNOT SURVIVE a Religious War. Shield YOUR SWORDS.”
Audu Maikori was yesterday arrested by the Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The Chocolate City boss was accused of misinformation which he had apologized over, two weeks ago.
He also published a retraction on his Facebook page and claimed his driver, a certain Simon Joseph, misled him.