Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has come under fire for a controversial comment on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that the killings in Southern Kaduna would continue if residents kept attacking Fulani herdsmen.
News Bulletin observed that Bashir, known for his combative presence on social media, deleted the tweet shortly after facing backlash.
His remark was in response to an X user, @qykali, who had criticized him for calling President Bola Tinubu “Pablo.” The user accused Bashir’s father of being a “Fulani irredentist” responsible for “industrial-scale ethnic cleansing” in Southern Kaduna during his tenure as governor.
Firing back, Bashir wrote: “It is your stupid mother that is an elephant. And Southern Kaduna residents will keep seeing sheghe (trouble or suffering) if they continue to attack indigenous Fulani herdsmen. Oloshi.”
The use of sheghe (a Hausa slang for suffering or severe consequences) has drawn widespread condemnation, with many accusing him of justifying violence against Southern Kaduna communities, who have long been targeted in deadly attacks by suspected herdsmen.
This controversy comes amid speculations about political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections. Bashir recently hinted that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, might join the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after his father’s defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In response to an X user who suggested the SDP would struggle to defeat the APC in 2027 without Obi, Bashir cryptically replied: “He is coming.”
His remark has fueled discussions about a possible alliance between Obi and the SDP, especially following his father’s high-profile exit from the APC.
Nasir El-Rufai, a key figure in the APC’s rise to power in 2015, recently resigned from the party, accusing its leadership under President Tinubu of abandoning its progressive ideals. In a resignation letter dated March 10, 2025, El-Rufai slammed the party’s leadership as “directionless” and unwilling to address its internal crises.
His defection is believed to be part of a larger exodus from the APC, with figures like former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and ex-Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi rumored to be considering a move to the SDP.
