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Claim: In a post, Facebook user @Ambrose Nwaogwugwu claimed El-Rufai was whisked away from the Odenigbo lecture in Owerri amid a protest.
Verdict: True. News reports confirm that El-Rufai was escorted out of the Odenigbo lecture in Owerri when a protest ensued.
Full Text
Nasir El-Rufai is a Nigerian politician and former governor of Kaduna State who has consistently been a national debate figure. During his time as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, he introduced demolition and planning measures in Abuja that some viewed as necessary for city development, while others condemned them as heavy-handed.
El-Rufai’s years as governor were marked by repeated religious and ethnic clashes in Kaduna, with mixed reactions to how his administration handled the unrest. He is also known for blunt public remarks on politics and religion, which have often drawn criticism and kept him at the centre of controversy.
On Sept. 6, 2025, a Facebook user claimed that El-Rufai was recently evacuated from a lecture hall in Owerri after protests broke out over his presence.
The user, @Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, in a lengthy text explained, “A heavy protest erupted today at the Odenigbo Lecture, Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, as angry crowds demanded the immediate removal of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and warned against Peter Obi’s presence. For security reasons, El-Rufai was swiftly whisked away after protesters declared he had no moral standing to lecture in a citadel of Igbo heritage, citing his past role as a stakeholder in chaos and hate campaigns against Ndi Igbo.”
As of Sept. 16, 2025, the post had 66 likes, 197 comments, and 11 shares.
We reviewed the comment thread and found it heated, with users adding or disputing different points.
@Emeka T Amadi, for instance, wrote, “When you promote this kind of news, remember that tomorrow is still pregnant. Northerners don’t forget and never forgive. As long as you are Igbo, they don’t care who you are. Our people will go there to campaign, and they will receive the same treatment. Everything must not be Politics.”
@Chibuike Uloka added, “It is imo state-sponsored. Very sick and low. I pour una spit.”
Other users, like @alphonsus Iheature, questioned the claim’s authenticity: “Can we see the video? Don’t promote this type of information, please.”
Seeing the varying disposition to the claim and the doubt raised in the comments, DUBAWA decided to investigate.
Verification
We started by using keywords from the claim to check if the incident truly happened. Our search led us to a report by The Nation newspaper. The article confirmed that former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai attended the Odenigbo Lecture Series at Assumpta Cathedral in Owerri, Imo State, alongside former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi. The report described how a large crowd of protesters gathered at the venue, chanting and carrying placards that labelled El-Rufai an enemy of the Igbo people and Christians.
According to the report, the protesters accused El-Rufai of involvement in anti-Igbo and anti-Christian actions during his tenure as governor. They expressed anger that Obi invited him to such a high-profile Catholic event. Security operatives were present to prevent the demonstrators from disrupting the programme, but the booing and chants were loud enough to draw widespread attention.
Other news platforms reported this development here, here, and here.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri issued a statement condemning the protest and clarifying that El-Rufai was not an invited speaker. The Archdiocese revealed that the annual lecture, delivered this year in Igbo by Prof. Evangeline Oparaocha, traditionally features only a guest of Igbo heritage. It added that Peter Obi, whom the protesters alleged invited El-Rufai, was absent at this year’s event.
The Archdiocese described the protesters as “hired thugs,” and urged security agencies to investigate.
Conclusion
The claim is true as a protest did break out at the Odenigbo lecture, and El-Rufai was escorted from the venue. However, it is worth noting that he was not there to lecture, as claimed, but to attend the lecture.
