Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has tendered a public apology to Vice President Kashim Shettima over a contentious social media post made in March. The apology comes after a backlash against Bashir's comments, which were widely criticized as disrespectful. In a message shared on social media, Bashir described his initial post as reckless and expressed regret for referring to Shettima in a derogatory manner.
Bashir's apology reflects a significant shift in his stance on the Vice President, whom he now claims to hold in high regard and respect. This change of heart follows weeks of controversy surrounding a now-deleted post on March 6, 2026, in which Bashir criticized Shettima for lacking courage.
Bashir's apology to Shettima has been made public, with the Vice President seemingly accepting it. The controversy surrounding Bashir's initial post has now subsided, with many observers welcoming the apology.
Kashim Shettima's reputation has been salvaged, but the real question is what this says about the culture of accountability within the Presidential Villa. Bashir El-Rufai's apology is a tacit admission that his initial criticism was misplaced, and that the Vice President's office is not as powerless as he claimed. This incident highlights the need for leaders to speak truth to power and not be cowed by criticism. The fact that Bashir was forced to apologize suggests that there are consequences for reckless comments, and that's a positive development for Nigerian politics.
