Kaduna North Federal Constituency representative, Bello El-Rufai, has refuted claims of his involvement in the award of contracts during the governorship of his father, Nasir El-Rufai, in Kaduna State.
Bello addressed these allegations in an interview with Yaya Abba on the programme “With Shuraim.”
Nasir El-Rufai, who served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, later became the governor of Kaduna State, holding office from 2015 to 2023.
Recently, accusations have surfaced that he left significant debt for his successor, Uba Sani, amounting to $587 million, N85 billion, and N115 billion in contract liabilities. Sani has stated that the remaining funds in the state’s treasury are insufficient to cover salaries.
Bello El-Rufai defended his father, describing him as an exceptional leader crucial to Nigeria’s progress. He recalled the vigorous campaign efforts for his father’s gubernatorial bid, noting the political momentum and strategic alliances, particularly with the Southwest, that facilitated Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential victory.
Bello, now the Chairman of the House Committee on Banking Regulations, explained that upon his father assuming office, he was deliberately distanced from the political scene. “Immediately after he became governor, he sent me, as I say, on exile. Unlike the children of the governors back then, I didn’t really stay in Kaduna doing contracts,” Bello stated. He acknowledged that his father’s decision was to shield him from potential undue influence and favouritism from contractors seeking preferential treatment through family connections.
During his father’s first term, Bello worked in the Enterprise Business Unit of Huawei, which he credits for his understanding of organisational structure. He emphasised that his professional experience was separate from his father’s political activities.
In March 2024, Bello had publicly praised his father’s administrative capabilities following the Senate’s rejection of Nasir El-Rufai’s ministerial nomination, highlighting the nation’s loss of an effective administrator.
Bello’s recent statements continue to underscore his father’s commitment to good governance and the strategic distancing of family members from government business to avoid conflicts of interest.
