Dignitaries including the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, the 16th Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II, and several governors converged at the National Mosque in Abuja on Sunday for the Janazah (funeral) prayer of the late Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, mother of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
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However, the gathering has sparked reactions from Nigerians on social media, with many questioning whether those who played roles in El-Rufai’s detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission are now offering “fake sympathy.”
Northern Governors were represented by Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who is the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed deep sorrow over the loss and commiserated with Malam Nasir and the entire El-Rufai family.
He described the demise of a mother as a profound and irreplaceable loss that leaves an enduring void in the hearts of her children and loved ones.
“Hajiya Umma lived a life characterized by humility, compassion and strong moral values, having nurtured a family grounded in discipline and service,” Governor Yahaya said.
On behalf of the Government and people of Gombe State and the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Governor Yahaya extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, urging them to find solace in the exemplary life she lived and the positive legacy she left behind.
He prayed that Almighty Allah forgive her shortcomings, reward her good deeds and grant her Aljannat Firdaus.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani also arrived at the National Mosque for the Janazah prayer, despite the well-known political tensions between him and his predecessor.
All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, on Saturday paid a condolence visit to El-Rufai at his residence in Abuja.
The visit was to commiserate with El-Rufai over the passing of his mother, who died on Friday in Cairo, Egypt.
Yilwatda expressed the party’s condolences and prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased matriarch.
The APC National Chairman was received by El-Rufai shortly after the former governor returned home on compassionate grounds from ICPC custody.
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, also paid a condolence visit to El-Rufai in Abuja following the funeral prayers.
The presence of dignitaries at the funeral has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with many Nigerians questioning the sincerity of condolences from those perceived to have roles in El-Rufai’s legal troubles.
Some Nigerians argued that those who put El-Rufai in what they described as “illegal ICPC detention” are now playing “fake sympathy” for him.
Others speculated that Hajiya Umma may have died from shock upon hearing that her son had been in detention for 34 days.
“She died while her son was in detention for 34 days. The shock must have accelerated her death,” one social media user wrote.
Another asked: “Are those who orchestrated his detention now coming to offer condolences? This is the height of hypocrisy.”
Adding to the controversy, a social media post by Bashir El-Rufai, son of the former governor, has stirred reactions online after he appeared to mock Kaduna Governor Uba Sani following an encounter with his father at the funeral.
In the post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Bashir wrote: “Lmao. Pantami the Kingmaker. One felt shame, the other indifference,” in apparent reference to a moment when El-Rufai and Governor Sani exchanged greetings at the funeral prayers.
The interaction reportedly took place when the former governor was seen shaking hands with his successor despite ongoing political tensions between them.
The development comes against the backdrop of a growing rift between El-Rufai and Sani, whose relationship has deteriorated since the transition of power in Kaduna State.
El-Rufai, who was widely seen as instrumental in Sani’s emergence as governor, is now believed to be at odds with him following a political fallout that has reshaped alliances within the state.
Governor Sani has since strengthened ties with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a move observers say has further widened the divide, given reports of a strained relationship between Tinubu and El-Rufai.
Amid these tensions, El-Rufai has reportedly taken a hardline stance, vowing to oppose Tinubu’s future political ambitions, including his re-election bid.
The former governor, who is a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, has been in ICPC custody since February 18 over allegations of corruption and money laundering. He was released on compassionate grounds on Friday following the death of his mother.
The funeral of Hajiya Umma El-Rufai has become more than a solemn occasion of mourning — it has exposed the complex web of political relationships, rivalries, and grievances that define Nigeria’s political landscape.
The presence of dignitaries who have varying relationships with the embattled former governor, combined with the public reactions questioning the sincerity of their condolences, underscores the deep divisions that persist even in moments of personal tragedy.
For El-Rufai, who faces a 10-count charge and a separate prosecution by the State Security Service, the outpouring of support from some quarters — and the criticism from others — reflects his polarising position in Nigerian politics.
As he prepares to return to court on March 31 for his bail hearing, the political implications of his legal troubles and the alliances being formed or broken around him will continue to shape the narrative ahead of the 2027 elections.
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