Former lawmaker and human rights activist Shehu Sani has responded sharply to Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, the wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, after she corrected a grammatical error in his post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Background of the Exchange
On Friday, Sani expressed his thoughts on President Bola Tinubu’s international trips and their impact on inflation in Nigeria. He wrote, “New law of economics; When the President travels out, Taxes and Prices goes up,” implying that the President’s travels contribute to rising taxes and commodity prices.
Hadiza El-Rufai, known for her keen eye for grammar, quickly pointed out that the correct phrasing should be “go up” instead of “goes up.” Her comment ignited a flurry of reactions from netizens, with many chiming in on the grammatical debate.
Sani’s Response
In a counter to Hadiza’s correction, Sani replied in the comment section, telling her to leave him alone. He noted that both had previously unfollowed each other on the platform and questioned why she was still monitoring his posts. He wrote, “I unfollowed you and you unfollowed me. And you still de hang around me. Mummy, leave me alone abeg.”
Political Context
This exchange reflects an ongoing tension between Sani and Hadiza’s husband, who was the governor of Kaduna during Sani’s tenure in the Senate. Despite both being members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the two had a significant rift that eventually led to Sani’s defection to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). In the 2019 elections, he ran for governor but lost to Uba Sani, the APC candidate and a former ally of El-Rufai.
The interaction highlights the often contentious nature of political and social discourse in Nigeria, as well as the personal rivalries that can arise within party lines.