A combined photo of President Bola Tinubu, Nasir El-Rufai and late Hajiya Umma El-Rufai
By Victory Oghene
President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Nigeria’s Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu were among prominent Nigerians who mourned the demise of Hajiya Umma El-Rufai mother of former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
This is just as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has granted a temporary bail to El-Rufai to enable him bury his late mother who died in Cairo, Egypt, after a period of sickness.
El-Rufai’s son, Bashir, confirmed his father’s release in a post on his X handle Friday night. He wrote “Alhamdulillah. My beloved great legend of a father (@elrufai) is being released from his unlawful and illegal detention at the hands of one of the most corrupt agencies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is a lame excuse of a pathetic institution.
“Thank you all for all the support. Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufai’s always do,” he wrote.
Her passing comes just a week after the death of her daughter-in-law, Safiya Ali Rufai, compounding the family’s grief.
Hajiya El-Rufai’s death was announced on Friday by her grandson, Bello El-Rufai, in a Facebook post in which he expressed gratitude for her life and called for prayers for her soul.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. From Allah SWT we came, and to Him we shall all return. I would like to inform the public of the demise of my grandmother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who passed away a few hours ago,” the post read.
Tinubu, in a statement signed on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the late matriarch of the El-Rufai family as a woman who lived a remarkable life, raised children and grandchildren who have contributed greatly to the country.
The President, who also lost his mother in old age, said he understood the depth of El-Rufai’s loss.
He said, “Nasir, please accept my heartfelt condolences on the passing of your beloved mother, Hajiya Umma, which happened today in Cairo.
“As someone who had also lost an old mother, I share in your grief. I understand the depth of your loss.
“Losing a mother is a pain unlike any other. I know that no words can fully ease your sorrow, but I pray that the memories of her love, wisdom, and guidance bring you comfort in the days ahead. I also hope you find strength in the remarkable life she lived and the values she instilled in the entire family.”
Tinubu expressed faith that the deceased had fulfilled her earthly purpose according to divine will.
“As firm believers in Allah, we are convinced that she has played her part in this world as laid out for her by the Almighty and has gone back to her maker,” Tinubu said.
