El-Rufai’s Son Apologises Over Tweet Supporting Southern Kaduna Killings After Public Outrage

Bashir El-Rufai, the son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has apologized following backlash over his controversial comment on X (formerly Twitter).

Bashir, known for his brash social media presence, had posted a controversial remark suggesting that the killings in Southern Kaduna would persist if residents continued to attack Fulani herdsmen. 

“It is your stupid mother that is an elephant. And Southern Kaduna residents will keep seeing sheghe (trouble or suffering) if they continue to attack indigenous Fulani herdsmen. Oloshi,” Bashir wrote in response to an X user, @qykali, who had accused his father of overseeing “industrial-scale ethnic cleansing” in the region during his tenure as governor.

The term sheghe (shege)—a Hausa slang implying severe suffering—was perceived as an endorsement of violence, igniting outrage from many Nigerians who saw it as an attempt to justify the recurring massacres in Southern Kaduna, where suspected herdsmen have repeatedly attacked communities.

Following the backlash, Bashir deleted the tweet and later offered an apology, admitting that his initial post was “in bad taste.”

“My tweet about Southern Kaduna residents & persecuted Fulani herdsmen was in bad taste & also badly written in an attempt to make a point in the heat of the moment. I apologize for that to those that know me, and are aware that I don’t harbor such sentiments,” he wrote on X.

My tweet about Southern Kaduna residents & persecuted Fulani herdsmen was in bad taste & also badly written in an attempt to make a point in the heat of the moment. I apologize for that to those that know me, and are aware that I don’t harbor such sentiments.

— Bashir El-Rufai (@BashirElRufai) March 12, 2025

However, critics remain skeptical of his apology, accusing him of walking back his statement only after facing public outrage.

“You are true son of your father, Nigeria would have been disappointed if you do otherwise. Just hatred for certain religion. God will punish you,” an X user, Iyiola Babalola told Bashir.

“You are supposed to be in jail by now,” another user, Uncle Floyd added.

Bashir’s latest controversy comes amid growing speculation about political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.

Recently, he fuelled discussions about the future of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, hinting that Obi might join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) following his father’s defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Responding to an X user who suggested the SDP would struggle against the APC unless Obi joined, Bashir cryptically replied: “He is coming.”

The remark has intensified speculation about an alliance between Obi and the SDP, especially after Nasir El-Rufai’s dramatic exit from the APC.

Nasir El-Rufai, once a powerful APC figure, resigned from the party in a letter dated March 10, 2025, accusing it of straying from its founding principles.

“Developments in the last two years confirm that there is no desire on the part of those who currently control and run the APC to acknowledge, much less address, the unhealthy situation of the party,” he wrote.