Bashir El-Rufai Sparks Outrage Over Southern Kaduna Comment Amid APC Crisis
Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has ignited controversy following a provocative remark on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the ongoing violence in Southern Kaduna.
In a now-deleted tweet, Bashir suggested that attacks in the region would persist if residents continued to confront Fulani herdsmen.
His comment, which followed a heated exchange with an X user, @qykali, drew widespread condemnation.
The exchange began when @qykali criticized Bashir for referring to President Bola Tinubu as “Pablo,” accusing his father of overseeing “industrial-scale ethnic cleansing” in Southern Kaduna during his tenure.
In response, Bashir fired back, using an expletive and stating, “Southern Kaduna residents will keep seeing sheghe (trouble or suffering) if they continue to attack indigenous Fulani herdsmen.”
His use of the Hausa slang word sheghe—which implies suffering or severe consequences—has fueled accusations that he was justifying violence against Southern Kaduna communities, who have long been victims of deadly attacks by suspected herdsmen.
Beyond the controversy, Bashir El-Rufai recently fueled speculation about a possible political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.
Responding to an X user who suggested that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) needed Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bashir cryptically stated: “He is coming.”
This remark has intensified discussions about a potential alliance between Obi and the SDP, especially following Nasir El-Rufai’s recent exit from the APC.
In a resignation letter dated March 10, 2025, El-Rufai accused the APC of straying from its founding principles, describing its leadership under President Tinubu as “directionless.”
“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 stated.
El-Rufai’s defection is part of a broader political shake-up, with key figures such as former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and other political big wigs from the Southwest rumored to be considering a move to the SDP.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
