Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, mother of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, passed away on Friday after battling age-related health challenges that had worsened recently. Her demise triggered a wave of condolence visits from prominent political figures to El-Rufai's Abuja residence.

Among the early visitors was Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, who called on Saturday to offer his condolences. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also paid a visit to sympathize with the former governor and his family. Other notable leaders who offered their condolences included former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

El-Rufai himself had been released from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on compassionate grounds immediately following the news of his mother's death. Senator Tambuwal shared details of his condolence visit on his social media page, expressing deep sympathy and sharing in the family's grief. He emphasized that "The loss of a mother is profoundly personal and irreplaceable," and offered prayers for Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, asking that Almighty Allah grant her Aljannatul Firdaus and bless the family with strength and patience to bear the loss.

However, the circumstances surrounding El-Rufai's detention and subsequent release have sparked significant political debate. Demola Olarenwaju, Senior Political Assistant to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alleged that political motives by President Bola Tinubu were behind El-Rufai's prolonged detention, aimed at silencing the opposition. Olarenwaju claimed on X that El-Rufai's release could have been secured much earlier, but was delayed by what he described as efforts to weaken opposition figures and a "desperate desire to clear future rivals," implicating Ribadu.

Olarenwaju further described the timing of El-Rufai's release, only after his mother's death, as a "bitter irony." He controversially suggested that Hajiya Umma might still be alive "if Tinubu and Ribadu did not decide to punish her son politically." He concluded by warning that this situation offered "future glimpses of a Tinubu 2nd term already," implying a continuation of such political tactics against opposition figures.