By Francesca Hangeior.
The member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Bello El-Rufai, has stated that incumbent Governor Uba Sani is his mentor, adding that they still keep in touch.
Bello revealed this in a video interview hosted by Yaya Abba, titled, ‘With Shuraim’’.
He recalled how two of his friends influenced his move to work under Sani while he was a serving Senator in the 9th Senate.
Bello noted that Sani’s first reaction was that he (Bello) would turn down the offer, citing the notion that people have regarding the children of “big men.”
“I think working with Senator Uba Sani taught me the politics that fits this country,” adding that he had a great influence on his knowledge of the politics of legislative representation.
“He’s still my mentor, we talk every day. After he (Sani) emerged as the APC candidate to replace my father, he told my father he wanted me to run for the Reps,” he said.
He noted that his membership in the Green Chamber wasn’t his father’s call, adding that he (the father) “never campaigned for me.
“But Senator Uba Sani was adamant that I had learnt a few things while working in the 9th Senate as a senior legislative aide. That was the step towards me running,” he added.
Bello stressed that he’s aware of his responsibilities as the representative of his constituent, saying, “For me, where I’m from, I feel I’m genuinely responsible for every individual that’s in Kaduna North.”
The lawmaker stated that while he still feels the pressure of legislative representation, he remains grateful for the achievements of his office so far, including initiatives towards improving the education and health of his constituents, among others.
Bello equally noted that his online presence had made people misjudge his person, saying he was seen as a “poster boy of arrogance.”
The lawmaker stated that people needed to understand the thin line between criticism and hatred.
“My first baptism of public service was when my sister died in 2011 in London. Somebody sent me a comment when someone said ‘he hopes she burns in hell twice,” adding that his leadership role has availed him of control on his social media comments.
Sani had revealed that his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, left a debt of $587 million, N85 billion, and N115 billion in contract liabilities.
Meanwhile, the governor, through his spokesman, Mohammed Shehu, has said that Sani would not reply to another of El-Rufai’s sons, Bashir, who took to X to attack the governor over the state’s debt profile.
Bashir, on his social media handle, accused Sani of shying away from his responsibility by always staying away from the state and hibernating in Abuja.
The young El-Rufai accused the governor of surrounding himself with a retinue of incompetent aides appointed for political patronage.