Former Minister of Education, Madam Oby Ezekwesili, has pleaded with Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to free Audu Maikori. She also said El-Rufai was planning to take Maikori to court on Monday before she intervened.


Ezekwesili, in a series of tweets posted on Saturday, 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."

On Friday, Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), picked up Chocolate City founder, Audu Maikori.