Nothing wrong probing my father’s govt but …-El-Rufai’s son

Bello El-Rufa’i, the House of Representatives member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, has expressed that investigating the previous administration in Kaduna State, led by his father Nasir El-Rufa’i, is not inherently negative. However, he stressed that any probe should be conducted with a clear and just purpose.

Bello shared these thoughts in response to the ongoing political tensions between his father and the current Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani.

While acknowledging the discord, the lawmaker expressed his disapproval of the conflict but noted that he was not in a position to mediate or reconcile the two figures.

The political rivalry is particularly striking as Sani, once seen as El-Rufa’i’s protégé, has now become his political adversary.

Speaking during a BBC Hausa interview on the Mahangar Zamani program, Bello stated his discomfort with the situation, especially considering the personal relationship he holds with both individuals.

  “It is unsettling. I wouldn’t love to see my enemies picking a fight with each other. I love peace,” he said. He attributed the situation to the natural ups and downs of life, remarking that “marriages sometimes break, friends can cut ties. But it is important to maintain and preserve the ties, no matter what,” he said.

While he admitted that he was unaware of the reasons behind the rift, Bello expressed doubt about any personal animosities between his father and Sani. “None of them told me anything about the rift. I only got to understand that things are no longer as before,” he explained. He added that the issue was being exaggerated by the public, comparing it to a fictional rivalry, and emphasized that some people were even contacting him for information.

Regarding the investigation launched by Governor Sani’s administration into the activities of El-Rufa’i’s government, Bello expressed that a probe is not inherently bad. “It is not a bad thing to investigate. But it should be done with clear intention and not to humiliate anyone or because someone has offended you. But if you are doing it for selfish reasons, Allah will judge. Allah will forgive your frailties but will not overlook the harm you inflict on someone,” he remarked.

Asked if he would intervene to reconcile the two, Bello made it clear that such a role was not his responsibility. “It is not my job. Mine is to focus on delivering on my mandate to the good people of Kaduna north. I love peace and fidelity. But for me, if I were to join issues with anyone, I’d rather approach it not publicly.”

He also defended his father, stating, “For me, politically speaking, Mallam Nasiru has no equal. He is only concentrating on his work. He’s a father. He’s my father.” He expressed surprise that some people were still waiting for him to speak on the conflict between Sani and his father.