Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has publicly thanked Peter Obi for repeatedly checking on his father during his ongoing detention.
Bello, who is also a member of the House of Representatives, spoke during an interview with Ibrahim Ismaila Ahmed which was uploaded on Monday and subsequently gained attention online.
According to Bello, several prominent political figures reached out to the family during the period, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
He specifically highlighted Obi’s repeated calls, saying the former Anambra State governor regularly contacted him to ask about his father’s condition and welfare.
Bello said Obi’s actions made a personal impression on him because he had previously been critical of the former Anambra governor.
He described the experience as a lesson in life, noting that the support came from someone whose political positions he had not always agreed with.
The acknowledgement comes amid increased political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election, with Obi currently associated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress and El-Rufai playing a role in the African Democratic Congress campaign structure.
Atiku’s ADC campaign council, announced earlier in September, named El-Rufai as deputy chairman, while Atiku is the party’s presidential candidate and Rotimi Amaechi its vice-presidential candidate.
Bello’s comments therefore highlight a personal interaction between political actors whose affiliations and positions have sometimes placed them on different sides of Nigeria’s political debates.
Nasir El-Rufai has remained in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission since February 18, 2026, according to PUNCH’s report.
The former Kaduna governor’s detention is connected to an ongoing investigation, while various political figures and groups have publicly expressed differing views about the circumstances surrounding his continued detention.
Peter Obi has previously criticised El-Rufai’s prolonged detention, describing it as political persecution, a characterisation that reflects Obi’s stated position rather than an established finding by a court.
Bello also gave an account of how his father has been spending the period in detention, saying El-Rufai has used the time to read books, study the Quran and reflect on his years in public service.
He said the period had provided his father with time in isolation to reflect on his life and work, as well as consider how he could approach things differently in the future.
The younger El-Rufai’s remarks also come against the backdrop of broader public debate over the detention of his father and the legal processes surrounding the investigation.
The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria recently called for adherence to due process in the handling of El-Rufai’s continued detention, stressing that every citizen is entitled to fundamental rights and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court.
The council said its concerns were focused on the rule of law and constitutional safeguards rather than support for or opposition to any alleged wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai’s inclusion in Atiku’s campaign council has placed him among several opposition figures preparing for the 2027 presidential contest.
The campaign council is headed by Kashim Ibrahim-Imam as chairman, with El-Rufai serving as deputy chairman and Austin Akobundu as Director-General and Campaign Manager.
For Bello, however, the focus of his latest comments was not campaign politics but the support his family received during a difficult period.
His appreciation for Obi underscores how personal relationships and acts of support can sometimes cut across political differences.
The comments also show the range of political figures who have maintained contact with the El-Rufai family during the former governor’s detention.
As the investigation involving the former Kaduna governor continues, his family and political allies remain publicly engaged with the issues surrounding his detention, while authorities continue to handle the matter through the relevant investigative and legal processes.