The family of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, has firmly dismissed allegations that the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, has neglected him during his current legal proceedings. The response comes in direct rebuttal to a column by Professor Farooq Kperogi, titled “Sanusi and the Betrayal of El-Rufai,” published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which suggested the Emir had failed to support El-Rufai in his hour of need.
Asia Mohammed Ahmad, the wife of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, addressed the controversy on her Facebook page, asserting that the Emir has remained a constant support for the family. She described Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II as their father, stating that the family respects him at all times. “I want to clarify that HH is with us and Mallam’s post has nothing to do with HRH SLS, so pls stop alluding to things that you don’t know!” she wrote, adding that she was glad Kperogi acknowledged there may be matters the public is unaware of.
Bello El-Rufai, a son of the former governor, also took to social media to support his mother’s stance. He reaffirmed the family’s bond with the Emir, remarking that “indeed Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, remains our Father and he truly stand with Us.”
Public reaction to the family’s statement has largely echoed their defense, with many commentators arguing that the Emir of Kano has limited capacity to intervene in El-Rufai’s ongoing trial. One commentator, Mallam Muhammad Bello, criticized Kperogi’s analysis as “simply goofing,” contending that traditional title holders do not have a role in such legal matters.
“Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, just like other Emirs, is controlled by the governor; so I don’t see how the Emir of Kano will interfere in the El-Rufai case,” Bello wrote.
The dispute highlights the complex dynamics between political figures, traditional authorities, and public perception in Nigeria, where the influence of emirs is often viewed as constrained by the executive powers of state governors.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
