el-Rufai’s Lawmaker-Son: Reconciliation Between My Father and Kaduna Governor Is Not My Job
Bello El-Rufai, the son of former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai and current member of the House of Representatives for Kaduna North, has stated that while his father remains his top role model and Governor Uba Sani is his superior, it is not his responsibility to reconcile the two men.
He further claimed that some individuals seemed to take pleasure in the ongoing conflict between his father and Governor Sani, likening it to the publicized disputes between Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra.
In a recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service, monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna, Hon. El-Rufai emphasized that his main focus was providing quality representation to the people of Kaduna North Federal Constituency.
He reflected on his history with Governor Sani, recalling that he had worked as the governor’s legislative aide when Sani represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the Senate, before he was elected to his current position in 2023.
The tension between Governor Sani and former Governor El-Rufai has escalated in recent weeks, primarily stemming from Sani’s claims that his predecessor left the state with significant debt, which has hindered the payment of workers’ salaries.
Despite the growing feud, Hon. El-Rufai had refrained from speaking publicly about the matter until now. He warned that if he were to engage in the conflict on social media, it would be a fierce battle, as he had demonstrated in the past. However, he made it clear that he was unhappy with the rift between his father and the governor, as both have played important roles in his life.
It’s also worth noting that the Kaduna State House of Assembly had initiated an investigation into alleged financial misconduct under El-Rufai’s administration, particularly regarding a N423 billion loan. Some former officials from the El-Rufai era were questioned or even put on trial, with one former official reportedly hospitalized after being detained by an anti-graft agency. However, El-Rufai denied the allegations and filed a lawsuit to clear his name.
In the BBC interview, Hon. El-Rufai expressed his discomfort with the situation: “It is not pleasant for us; even if a person is my enemy, I do not want to see him fighting with another enemy of mine. I want peace.” He acknowledged that life could change at any time, but stressed that friendships and relationships should not be abandoned because of conflicts.
He also shared his confusion over the fallout between his father and Governor Sani, noting that he did not know what caused the rift and had never witnessed the two men publicly insult each other. He added that neither of them had discussed the crisis with him, leading him to question whether the conflict was as serious as people claimed.
On the ongoing investigation into his father’s administration, Hon. El-Rufai maintained that there was nothing wrong with an investigation, as it was not inherently criminal. However, he cautioned that if the probe had a malicious intent, justice would prevail.
When asked whether he felt he could reconcile his father with Governor Sani, he responded firmly, “By Almighty Allah, it is not my work. My job is to focus on helping the people of Kaduna North.” While he expressed his desire for peace between the two men, he emphasized that his priority remained his constituents.
In closing, Hon. El-Rufai praised his father’s political achievements, stating, “In my opinion, there is no one as good as Malam Nasir politically. He always puts his work first, and that’s why I aspire to be like him.” Regarding Governor Sani, he added, “For those waiting for me to say something about him, they will be disappointed.”
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