Bashir El-Rufai Ignites Political Controversy by Publicly Rejecting Governor Uba Sani’s Condolence Message in Kaduna

Bashir El-Rufai sparks controversy in Kaduna by rejecting Governor Uba Sani’s condolence message for his late grandmother with a blunt Hausa response.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 8:42 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Politics Nigeria

Public Rejection of State House Communique

A fresh wave of political tension has gripped Kaduna State following a blunt public reaction from Bashir El-Rufai, the son of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, toward an official message of sympathy from the current administration. Governor Uba Sani had issued a formal executive statement to mourn the passing of Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, the matriarch of the El-Rufai family. However, the attempt at diplomatic outreach was met with immediate resistance, signaling a deep seated reluctance to engage with the current leadership even during a period of personal mourning.

Executive Tribute to a Respected Matriarch

In his original statement, Governor Sani offered what appeared to be a standard state tribute, describing the deceased as a respected figure who lived a life characterized by service and compassion. Speaking on behalf of the government and the people of Kaduna, the Governor extended his deepest sympathies to his predecessor and the entire bereaved family. The message sought to frame Hajiya Umma El-Rufai as a woman of moral clarity and quiet strength, emphasizing her role as a source of counsel and reconciliation within her local community.

The Linguistic Finality of a Brief Response

The controversy reached a boiling point when Bashir El-Rufai took to social media to provide a direct, three syllable response to the Governor’s formal outreach. Using the Hausa phrase, Bama so, which translates directly to, we don’t want, the younger El-Rufai effectively shut down the channel of state commiseration. This concise rejection has resonated across digital platforms, serving as a stark reminder of the fractured relationship between the two most prominent political camps in the region.