El-Rufai's son, Kaduna governor Uba Sani, continues to be my mentor

Bello El-Rufai, the member of the House of Representatives for the Kaduna North Federal Constituency, said that the current governor, Uba Sani, is his mentor and that they remain in communication.

Bello made this revelation in a Yaya Abba-hosted video interview titled “With Shuraim,” which PUNCH Online was able to view on Tuesday.

He recounted how, while he was a serving senator in the 9th Senate, two of his friends encouraged him to work for Sani.

Bello mentioned that Sani’s initial response was that he (Bello) would decline the offer because of the stereotype that comes with being the child of “big men.”

“I think working with Senator Uba Sani taught me the politics that fits this country,” adding that he had a great influence on his knowledge of the politics of legislative representation.

“He’s still my mentor, we talk every day. After he (Sani) emerged as the APC candidate to replace my father, he told my father he wanted me to run for the Reps,” he said.

He noted that his membership in the Green Chamber wasn’t his father’s call, adding that he (the father) “never campaigned for me.

“But Senator Uba Sani was adamant that I had learnt a few things while working in the 9th Senate as a senior legislative aide. That was the step towards me running,” he added.

Bello stressed that he’s aware of his responsibilities as the representative of his constituent, saying, “For me, where I’m from, I feel I’m genuinely responsible for every individual that’s in Kaduna North.”

The representative expressed his gratitude for the accomplishments of his office thus far, including efforts to enhance his constituents’ health and education, even if he still feels the weight of parliamentary representation.

Bello also observed that people’s perceptions of him had been shaped by his internet persona, seeing him as a “poster boy of arrogance.”

The congressman said that it was important for people to recognize the fine line that separates hatred and criticism.

“My first baptism of public service was when my sister died in 2011 in London. Somebody sent me a comment when someone said ‘he hopes she burns in hell twice,” adding that his leadership role has availed him of control on his social media comments.

Sani disclosed that Nasir El-Rufai, his predecessor, left behind contract liabilities worth N115 billion, N85 billion, and $587 million.

The PUNCH was informed by the governor’s spokesperson, Mohammed Shehu, that Sani would not respond to Bashir, another of El-Rufai’s sons, who had taken to X to criticize the governor over the state’s debt load.

Using his social media account, Bashir accused Sani of avoiding his responsibilities by constantly avoiding the state and hibernating in Abuja.

The youthful El-Rufai charged that the governor had surrounded himself with a group of untrained assistants chosen out of political favoritism.