El-Rufai Family Insists Emir Sanusi Stands with Them, Rejects Kperogi Betrayal Claims
Abuja/Kaduna, Nigeria—September 26, 2026—The family of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has strongly rejected suggestions that Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II has abandoned the embattled politician in his time of need.
The clarification came in direct response to a widely discussed column by Professor Farooq Kperogi titled “Sanusi and the Betrayal of El-Rufai.” In the piece, Kperogi examined public speculation that the Emir had grown distant after El-Rufai’s recent letter lamenting the “apparent silence” of some friends and associates he had once publicly supported.
Asia Mohammed Ahmad, wife of the former governor, took to Facebook to push back firmly.
“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.
She described the Emir as remaining their father and stressed that the family continues to respect him.
She also noted Kperogi’s own acknowledgment that there may be private details the public does not know.
Their son, Hon. Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, echoed the same sentiment, stating that Emir Muhammadu Sanusi “remains our Father and he truly stand with Us.”
Context of the Controversy
El-Rufai has been in the public eye for months over multiple legal cases involving the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In a September 23 statement, the former governor reflected on relationships tested by his current difficulties, without naming individuals.
Social media quickly linked the remarks to several longtime associates, including the Emir, given their decades-long friendship and El-Rufai’s visible support for Sanusi during his 2020 dethronement and subsequent challenges.
Kperogi’s analysis explored that history while ultimately arguing that accusations of betrayal overlook the different power dynamics and constraints facing a traditional ruler. Some online commentators had been sharper in their criticism of the Emir’s perceived silence.
Public Reactions and Practical Limits
Many who responded to Asia Mohammed Ahmad’s post argued that an Emir has limited ability to intervene in active court or anti-graft proceedings.
One commenter, Mallam Muhammad Bello, dismissed Kperogi’s framing as “simply goofing,” noting that traditional rulers operate under state governors and are not positioned to interfere in such cases.
The family’s public defence seeks to close the narrative that a personal or political rift has opened between the El-Rufais and the Emir of Kano.
It also underscores their view that private solidarity continues even if it is not always visible in public statements or media appearances.
As El-Rufai’s legal processes continue, the episode highlights the intense scrutiny that long-standing political and personal alliances face when a high-profile figure comes under pressure.
The family maintains that Emir Sanusi’s support remains intact.
*Reporting based on family statements, published columns, and contemporary news coverage as of September 26, 2026.*
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