Bashir El-Rufai: Controversial son of Nigerian politician known for his Twitter feuds

In the intricate circle of Nigerian politics, few names have garnered as much attention and stirred as much controversy as that of Bashir El-Rufai, the son of a prominent Nigerian politician.

As a member of a powerful political family, El-Rufai finds himself in the spotlight, drawing both admiration and criticism. has become somewhat of a controversial figure in the Nigerian Twitter sphere with his every move and statement garnering praise and ration from netizens.

So, who is Bashir El-Rufai, who is known for expressing sharp opinions and a habit of getting into arguments online?

Table of Content hide 1Bashir El-Rufai biography 2Bashir El-Rufai career 3Bashir El-Rufai’s net worth 4Bashir El-Rufai controversies 4.1Feud with Aisha Yusufu 4.2Feud with Shehu Sani 4.3Feud with David Hudeyin 4.4Comments on Falz 5Bashir El-Rufai family 6Bashir El-Rufai age

Bashir El-Rufai biography

Bashir El-Rufai is a public figure and entrepreneur. He was born in Daudawa, a town in Katsina State. Although he was born in Katsina State, he originally hails from Kaduna State. He is the son of Nasir El-Rufai, the outgoing Governor of Kaduna State.

El-Rufai received his basic education in Nigeria before moving to the United Kingdom to pursue a degree in corporate law.

According to El-Rufai’s birth date, the Kaduna native is a Sagittarius.

Bashir El-Rufai career

El-Rufai started his career as a corporate lawyer in London, where he worked for several years. After gaining experience in the legal profession, he returned to Nigeria to pursue entrepreneurship. He is the founder of several companies, including Gidan Nodza, a real estate development firm, and Kids Republic, an educational toy store.

In addition, El-Rufai is a writer and is known for his activism and advocacy work. He is an advocate for education and has worked to increase access to education for children in northern Nigeria.

Bashir El-Rufai’s net worth

El-Rufai’s net worth is not publicly available. However, he is an established entrepreneur and real estate developer who is known to live comfortably.

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Bashir El-Rufai controversies

El-Rufai has been involved in some controversies over the years. One of the most notable controversies occurred in January 2021 when he was accused of making disparaging remarks about women on Twitter. In response to a tweet by a user criticising his father, El-Rufai replied with a tweet that was widely interpreted as derogatory towards women. The tweet sparked outrage on social media, with many people calling for him to apologise.

El-Rufai has been criticised for his role in his father’s administration as Governor of Kaduna State. Some people have accused him of using his family’s influence to advance his business interests and of benefiting from government contracts. However, the governor’s son has denied these allegations, stating that he has no involvement in government procurement processes and that his businesses operate independently of his father’s administration.

Below are some of the other major controversies he has been involved in, especially on Twitter:

Feud with Aisha Yusufu

In a recent clash on social media, El-Rufai found himself entangled in a heated exchange with Aisha Yesufu, a prominent activist. El-Rufai, who is known for his aggressive online behaviour, resorted to using offensive language against Yesufu.

However, Yesufu, who is recognised for her unwillingness to tolerate insults, responded with a scathing retort aimed at the young El-Rufai.

El-Rufai’s stance in social media feuds seems to follow in the footsteps of his brother, Bello El-Rufai, who is now a House of Representatives-Elect member. In 2020, Bello gained notoriety when he disregarded restraint and issued a disturbing threat to rape the mother of a Twitter user, planning to involve his friends in this appalling act. This threat stemmed from Bello’s disagreement with a Twitter user – named @thanos_zer – regarding President Muhammadu Buhari‘s management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The social media brawl between El-Rufai and Aisha Yesufu represents the continuation of a family’s controversial engagement on digital platforms, showcasing the clash of strong personalities and the consequences that arise from crossing societal boundaries.

Feud with Shehu Sani

Lmaoo. I am so happy this man will be jobless for another eight years. I love his tweets !

— Bashir El-Rufai (@BashirElRufai) April 8, 2023

In April 2023, El-Rufai and Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna State, found themselves embroiled in a fiery social media spat. The disagreement was triggered by El-Rufai’s response to Sani’s tweet regarding the manufacturing of an aircraft before the end of President Buhari’s tenure on May 29, 2023.

El-Rufai’s comment, infused with a touch of sarcasm, expressed his delight at the prospect of Sani being unemployed for another eight years, while also expressing admiration for the former senator’s tweets. This provocative remark set off a heated exchange between the two political figures, captivating the attention of numerous social media users.

This recent clash is just one episode in a series of confrontations that have unfolded between Sani and El-Rufai on various social media platforms. Their ongoing feud has garnered significant interest and reactions from the online community.

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Feud with David Hudeyin

The fiery back and forth between El-Rufai and renowned journalist David Hundeyin began when the former, while seeking to apologise for past online insults he dished, conveniently claimed not to know the latter, despite their previous clashes.

After a Twitter user urged El-Rufai to tag Hundeyin in his apology, the former feigned ignorance and even mispronounced the latter’s surname as “Hyundai” instead of “Hundeyin”. This move seemingly fueled Hundeyin’s anger, prompting him to vehemently lambast Bashir El-Rufai.

Check out some of the series of Tweets between Hundeyin and El-Rufai:

Comments on Falz

El-Rufai took to Twitter on May 11, 2023, and made a sublime, yet provocative, comment directed at musician Falz, criticising him for undergoing knee surgery in the U.K. instead of Nigeria.

Expressing surprise at Falz, whom he sarcastically referred to as a “bonafide human rights activist”, El-Rufai questioned why the singer and lawyer opted for the U.K. for the surgery instead of LASUTH (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital).

El-Rufai’s statement, as usual, drew strong backlash from netizens, with numerous Twitter users coming to Falz’s defence while simultaneously lambasting El-Rufai.

Reacting to El-Rufai’s comments, a Twitter user with the handle @rosythrone tweeted:

“Don’t try to trend with our national treasure, Falz isn’t one person to be joke with mtcheew.”

Another Twitter user, @mz__seunfunmi, wrote:

 “If your father and other politicians had done the right thing there will be no need for traveling out for the surgery.”

Bashir El-Rufai family

El-Rufai comes from a prominent and influential family in Nigeria. His father, Nasir El-Rufai is a Nigerian politician and public figure who has played a significant role in shaping the country’s political landscape. Born on February 16, 1960, in Daudawa, Katsina State, the older El-Rufai comes from an educated family background. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying from Ahmadu Bello University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.

El-Rufai’s political career spans several decades. He has held notable positions in both the public and private sectors. He served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 2003 to 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. In 2015, El-Rufai was elected as the Governor of Kaduna State, a position he held for two successful tenures, until May 29, 2023.

Bashir El-Rufai’s mother, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, is a writer, author and architect. She is known for her involvement in community development initiatives and her support for women’s empowerment.

Bashir El-Rufai is from a polygamous home with two stepmothers – Aisha Ahmad El-Rufai and Aisha Ummi Garba. The younger El-Rufai has several siblings, including Hamza El-Rufai, Yasmin El-Rufai, Bilkisu El-Rufai, Bello El-Rufai, Mustapha El-Rufai and Ahmed El-Rufai.

One of his siblings, Bello El-Rufai, passed away in 2020. Similarly, he lost his sister, Yasmin El-Rufai, in 2011.

El-Rufai is currently married to Nwakego Eyisi, a lawyer and entrepreneur. Their wedding was highly publicised and attended by renowned dignitaries in Nigeria.

Bashir El-Rufai age

Bashir El-Rufai was born on December 3, 1992, He is currently 30 years old and will celebrate his 31st birthday in 2003.

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