Political rivals were present as former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday laid his mother to rest.
The final funeral provided a rare moment of unity in Nigeria’s fractious political landscape, as his estranged associates, including the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu and current Governor of Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, who have had a not-so-smooth relationship with El-Rufai in recent times, also present.
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Aside from El-Rufai’s estranged allies, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi as well as the Governor of Niger State, Umaru Bago and Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi were present during some of the events leading to the final burial. Earlier, President Bola Tinubu had sent in his condolence message.
A former Governor of Sokoto and current chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator Aminu Tambuwal, was also present at the funeral prayers at the National Mosque in Abuja.
Their presence highlighted the cross-party significance of the occasion, drawing together figures who are often political adversaries. Earlier, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, had also visited the embattled politician to commiserate with him on his mother’s demise.
But finally, Hajiya Umma el-Rufai, was laid to rest in Abuja at the Gudu Cemetery following funeral prayers conducted in line with Islamic rites. UNITY TIMES earlier reported that the matriarch of the family died on Friday in Cairo, Egypt, where she had been receiving medical treatment.
In a dramatic turn of events, hours after her death, el-Rufai, who had been in detention for over a month for alleged graft, was released by federal authorities.
Before yesterday’s final burial, the family of el-Rufai had announced the arrival of the remains of the ex-governor’s mother in Abuja for burial. El-Rufai’s son and member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mohammed El-Rufai, confirmed the funeral arrangements in a statement posted on X. He stated that the deceased’s remains had arrived safely on Sunday morning in Abuja.
“This is to notify the general public that the remains of our grandmother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, have safely landed in Abuja. The Janazah Prayer is by 1 p.m. as announced last night.
“The prayers will take place at the National Mosque and she will be buried at Gudu Cemetery by the grace of God. May Allah SWT bless her soul and all those that passed away before her,” he wrote.
Hajiya Umma’s death came at a time when ell-Rufai was in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) following his arrest over allegations of corruption and money laundering.
He was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on March 24 on a 10-count charge, with the case adjourned until March 31, 2026, for hearing of pending applications, including his bail request. He was, however, granted release from ICPC custody, reportedly to attend the burial rites and be with his family.