What El-Rufai’s predicaments tell us about northern elders
A recent video clip featuring Mahdi Shehu, a Kaduna-based public commentator; offers a provocative explanation for Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s present predicament. According to Shehu, El-Rufai’s troubles may be traced partly to a controversial declaration he made during the 2023 election campaign: that the North had no genuine elders beyond himself and its elected governors. He went […]
Recent video footage featuring Mahdi Shehu, a Kaduna-based public commentator, has shed light on the current predicament of Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State. Shehu claims that El-Rufai's troubles stem from a controversial statement made during the 2023 election campaign, wherein he suggested that the North had no genuine elders beyond himself and its elected governors. This bold dismissal of traditional power brokers, Shehu argues, has now returned to haunt him.
Shehu alleges that an influential northern elder with direct access to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has refused to intervene on El-Rufai's behalf, citing the former governor's allegedly unacceptable character. Additionally, Shehu claims that an octogenarian northern elder told him that El-Rufai had revoked a plot of land he owned in Kaduna for over 25 years without following proper procedures.
These allegations need independent verification, but they do raise an important question: What does this episode reveal about the concept of eldership in Northern Nigeria?
According to Shehu, if influential elders can choose to remain silent when a younger person displays arrogance, it indicates that their response is as much about them as it is about El-Rufai. Eldership, Shehu asserts, requires patience, reconciliation, restraint, and the ability to rise above personal grievances. When personal resentment prevents elders from defending justice, they weaken the institution of eldership itself.
El-Rufai, while undeniably controversial, exhibits a rare quality in Nigerian politics: fearlessness. Despite his harsh language and confrontational approach, he has publicly challenged entrenched political interests and refused to back down in the face of backlash. However, this same boldness has contributed to his current political isolation.
The case of El-Rufai highlights the need for consistent standards of accountability, regardless of an individual's region, party affiliation, or relationship with the President. It also underscores the importance of protecting the rule of law, even when it involves defending controversial or unpopular figures. The detention of El-Rufai does not equate to conviction, and he should be granted proper access to legal counsel and a fair trial before any final decision is made.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
