Mohammed El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and current House of Reps member for Kaduna North, has endorsed the Kaduna State Government’s decision to probe his father’s administration – provided it’s transparent and fair.
In a recent BBC Hausa Service interview, the lawmaker said accountability is key to governance but warned against individuals using probes to settle scores.
“Any probe must be about facts, not individuals,” he said.
While supporting accountability, Mohammed cautioned leaders against using probes for personal gain. He said political probes kill public trust and stagnate progress.
“Probes driven by malice hinder development and divert attention from governance,” he said. “Put Kaduna first, not factional interests.”
His remarks mirror Nigeria’s political climate where probes and audits are seen as tools to silence opposition rather than to account.
Media Hype and Personal Ties
On the reported rift between his dad and Kaduna Governor Uba Sani, Mohammed dismissed media reports of their relationship as exaggerated.
He compared their situation to the on-screen conflicts between Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, saying the media amplifies conflicts for attention.
However, he admits to being uncomfortable with the tension, saying Governor Sani is his mentor and his father influenced his career.
“Their fight hurts me but reconciliation is not my job,” he said, distancing himself from mediation.
Mohammed reiterated his commitment to his legislative duties, saying his priority remains his constituents in Kaduna North not political drama.
“Governance requires focus,” he said, listing infrastructure and youth empowerment projects in his constituency.
His stance is in tune with the growing demand for leaders to focus on tangible outcomes not politics – a position shared by governance experts like CDD who advocate for issue-based leadership in Nigeria.
He’s got it right on accountability, ethics and the media. By going for neutral probes and not divisive politics, he’s put himself on the side of institutional integrity.
As Kaduna goes through this probe, transparency and public service will define its politics – and its leaders’ progress.