Why Sanusi’s Silence on El-Rufai May Not Be Betrayal

I think it is unfair to conclude that Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II has betrayed Nasir El-Rufai simply because he has not publicly intervened in El-Rufai’s current legal troubles. El-Rufai’s recent letter about friends who stayed silent has fuelled speculation, and Sanusi is an obvious person many people have linked to it. El-Rufai stood firmly by Sanusi after his dethronement and exile in 2020. As Kaduna governor, he appointed Sanusi to public roles and personally travelled to Awe after a court ordered Sanusi’s release. Their friendship and El-Rufai’s support at the time were publicly known. But the circumstances are no longer equal. El-Rufai acted from the security and influence of a sitting governor’s office. Sanusi is now an emir whose position has already been removed and restored through political decisions in Kano. A public confrontation with the federal establishment over El-Rufai could put his throne and influence at risk. Sanusi may be able to make private appeals for fair treatment or lawful bail. However, expecting him to repeat El-Rufai’s 2020 intervention in the same manner ignores the unequal power and vulnerability of both men. I would be slow to describe self-preservation as betrayal without knowing what may be happening privately.

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