The member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Bello El-Rufai, addressed allegations regarding his involvement in contract awards during his father’s tenure as governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.
In an interview titled ‘With Shuraim,’ hosted by Yaya Abba, Bello clarified his position.
Nasir El-Rufai, a prominent political figure, served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Following this, he held two terms as the governor of Kaduna State, from 2016 to 2023.
Recently, allegations surfaced that Nasir El-Rufai left a substantial debt for his successor, Uba Sani, amounting to $587 million, N85 billion, and N115 billion in contract liabilities, leaving the state with insufficient funds to cover salaries.
Bello El-Rufai refuted these claims, stating, “I was not involved in the award of contracts during his tenure.” He added, “When 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.”
Reflecting on his time during his father’s administration, Bello mentioned, “Some of us were just learning the process. But immediately he became governor, he sent me, as I say, on exile.” He explained that his father’s decision to keep him away from the political scene was to prevent undue influence and shield him from potential accusations of favoritism.
Bello El-Rufai clarified that during the first four years of his father’s administration in Kaduna, he worked in the Enterprise Business Unit of the technology firm, Huawei, which helped him understand organizational structures and processes.
Bello also praised his father’s leadership, stating, “I think he (Nasir) is an exceptional mind and the sort of leader that Nigeria really needs; there are many like him.” He added, “What happens to the man in power is that if they can’t get to him, they’ll get to the wives or children,” explaining his father’s decision to keep him away from the political limelight.
Earlier in March 2024, Bello expressed his disappointment after the Senate rejected his father’s nomination as a minister, emphasizing the nation’s loss of an effective administrator. He mentioned that it took his pleas and those of other family members for his father to accept the ministerial nomination from President Bola Tinubu.
