By Elder Mahdi Shehu
There is a saying that political power is temporary, but the consequences of political decisions can endure for generations. The unfolding political journey of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has once again brought that reality into sharp focus.
During the 2023 presidential campaign, a fierce political debate emerged in Northern Nigeria over the direction of the region and who should succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. While several Northern political leaders and groups expressed reservations about the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), El-Rufai became one of the prominent Northern politicians who openly supported the argument that power should return to the South.
In one of his widely reported interviews in 2023, El-Rufai strongly criticised those commonly referred to as the "Northern elders." He described them as lacking the political influence to determine electoral outcomes and argued that the Northern governors were the real leaders of the region. He went further to say that he was himself an elder and challenged those claiming the title to contest elections if they believed they had genuine political influence.
His position generated considerable controversy at the time. Former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, among others, criticised the statement and argued that dismissing Northern elders in such a manner was an affront to the region.
For many Northern stakeholders, the issue was not simply about whether El-Rufai supported Tinubu. It was about the manner in which he appeared to dismiss an entire category of Northern leadership because of a political disagreement.
El-Rufai's position was nevertheless clear. He and other Northern governors argued that the presidency should move to the South, and he became a vocal supporter of Tinubu's 2023 candidacy. Contemporary reports quoted him as saying that the Northern governors were determined to ensure Tinubu's victory.
Fast-forward to today, and the political landscape has changed dramatically.
The relationship between El-Rufai and the Tinubu administration has deteriorated considerably. El-Rufai himself has subsequently said that his support for Tinubu in 2023 was based on political considerations rather than a personal friendship. More recently, he has openly criticised aspects of the administration.
His political troubles have also gone beyond disagreements with the government. In 2026, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) confirmed that El-Rufai was being held under a court-authorised remand order while allegations of money laundering and abuse of office were being investigated. El-Rufai's legal team challenged the detention in court.
It is against this background that some Northern voices now view his situation through the lens of his earlier comments about Northern elders.
The argument being made is simple: the same Northern elders whom El-Rufai once dismissed have not rushed to his defence today.
As I see it, those who were insulted or politically disregarded cannot be expected to forget such treatment simply because circumstances have changed.
We, the Northern elders, are not going to intervene on El-Rufai's behalf merely because he now finds himself in a difficult political situation. He made his choices when he had political power. He dismissed those he considered irrelevant and challenged them to prove their influence at the ballot box.
Today, the political circumstances are different.
This is not necessarily about hatred or personal revenge. It is about accountability for political conduct and the consequences that sometimes follow the decisions made when one occupies a position of power.
El-Rufai once told the Northern elders, in essence, to prove their relevance through elections. Today, the question confronting him is whether political power alone can guarantee permanent protection.
Let everyone reap what they sow.
— Elder Mahdi Shehu
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