There are moments in public life when the noise of politics fades, and one is confronted with something far more fundamental our shared humanity. Such was my experience when I visited Nasir El-Rufai to offer condolences on the passing of his mother.
He looked noticeably leaner, a combination perhaps of the physical demands of fasting and the emotional toll of recent pressures. In that quiet moment, stripped of the usual theatre of power and contestation, what stood before me was not the public figure many have come to debate, but a son in mourning. It was a sobering reminder that beneath the armour of politics, we remain human vulnerable, burdened, and in need of grace.
Politics, by its very nature, is a hard trade. It demands resilience, clarity of purpose, and often an iron will. Yet, it also raises an uncomfortable question: how do we reconcile ambition with empathy? How do individuals who share history, geography, and even aspirations for a common good find it within themselves to inflict deep wounds on one another? These are not abstract questions; they define the character of our political culture.
It is in this context that one must acknowledge the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Leadership is not only tested in moments of triumph, but in the ability to temper conflict with humanity. At critical junctures, the capacity to de-escalate tensions and remind all actors of their shared purpose becomes a mark of true statesmanship.
My acquaintance with El-Rufai is not recent. It dates back to his tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, a period during which I observed closely his approach to governance. He is, without question, a man of intense discipline capable of long hours, meticulous in planning, and unyielding in the pursuit of agreed objectives. Perhaps more importantly, he possesses the rare ability to assemble teams that can translate ideas into tangible outcomes.
Through my egbon, Jimi Lawal, and insights drawn from accounts of the formation of the APC, one gains a deeper appreciation of the intellectual and organizational labour that underpinned that political coalition. These were not accidental achievements; they were the product of deliberate effort, strategic thinking, and conviction.
In the lead-up to the 2023 cabinet formation, it also became evident that significant groundwork had been laid in anticipation of tackling one of Nigeria’s most stubborn challenges, the power sector. The frameworks, institutional proposals, and strategic direction that were being considered reflected a seriousness of intent that is too often missing in our policy environment. That such efforts became entangled in the familiar web of rivalry and suspicion is, unfortunately, not surprising. It is, however, deeply regrettable.
Nigeria’s political arena has long struggled with a paradox: we demand competence and results, yet we are often quick to undermine those who demonstrate both, particularly when their prospects real or imagined begin to unsettle established balances. This tendency does not merely affect individuals; it constrains national progress.
As the country continues to navigate its post-2023 reality, another subtle but significant transition is underway. With figures like Muhammadu Buhari no longer occupying the central space they once did, especially in the political imagination of the rural North, a vacuum both symbolic and strategic is emerging. History suggests that such vacuums do not remain unfilled for long. The search for new anchors of leadership, new voices of influence, and new custodians of political capital has already begun, whether acknowledged openly or not.
It is in moments like this when personal grief intersects with public uncertainty that the trajectories of individuals can shift in unexpected ways. Adversity, as history often teaches, can become the crucible of elevation.
For now, however, it is not politics that should dominate our reflections, but compassion. My prayer is simple: that Almighty Allah grants strength to Nasir El-Rufai in this period of loss, steadies his heart, and forgives the shortcomings of his beloved mother, granting her eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus.
In the end, beyond strategy and rivalry, beyond victory and defeat, it is our capacity for humanity that will define us and, perhaps, redeem our politics.
Otunba Segun Showunmi
The Alternative.
(Former Special Assistant to Dr Wilson Odumbaku
Transport Secretary FCT Abuja, under Mal Nasir El-Rufai)
