By Jeremiah Aminu
Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, has apologised to Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima over a controversial remark he made earlier this month.
The apology follows backlash over a now-deleted post shared on March 6, in which Bashir described the Vice President as “painfully spineless.”
In the post, he criticised Shettima’s role in government, suggesting that the Vice President had not effectively used his position to tackle alleged corruption within the Presidential Villa.
“I like Shettima. He’s just painfully spineless. I hope one day he realizes he is positioned in a unique place, and [has] the ability to take the whole corrupt criminal family system at the villa down,” he wrote.
The comment quickly drew widespread criticism on social media, with many users condemning the language used and questioning its intent
Apology Issued on X
Reacting to the backlash, Bashir issued a public apology on Sunday via his X (formerly Twitter) account.
He acknowledged that the earlier post was inappropriate and expressed regret over his choice of words.
“I want to use this medium to personally apologize to the Vice-President of Nigeria, His Excellency Sir Kashim Shettima for my old post referring to his person as spineless. He is someone I greatly admire & respect,” he wrote. He further described the comment as a mistake. “It was a reckless tweet. @KashimSM,” he added.
Mixed Reactions Trail Apology
The apology has since generated mixed reactions online.
While some users commended Bashir for taking responsibility and retracting his statement, others questioned the sincerity of the apology.
Critics described the move as hypocritical and insincere, arguing that public figures should exercise greater caution in their comments, especially on sensitive political matters.
Supporters, however, said the apology reflects accountability and urged him to be more measured in future statements.
Renewed Focus on Public Conduct
The incident has sparked renewed discussion about the role of public figures and politically exposed individuals on social media.
Observers note that comments made online, particularly those involving senior government officials, can quickly escalate into broader political debates.
The development highlights the increasing scrutiny faced by individuals linked to influential political figures and the importance of responsible communication in the digital space.
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