Bello el-Rufai, son of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai is trending for the most unexpected reasons.
He took a swipe at Donald Trump in what he perceived as his poor handling of the covid-19 pandemic in the US.
According to Bello, “There is nothing as radioactive as an incompetent leader during a time of crisis. The United States of America is a case in point. A few states in Nigeria too.”
He then received a response form Consigliere which inflamed his anger. He wondered why Bello “can’t call Buhari out for his ineptitude yet he is calling Trump names ? Did he vote Trump ?”
Shocking responses:
Bello El Rufai’s response was shocking as he used words least expected of a man of his social status. At the same time he insulted one of Nigeria’s ethnic groups:
“Tell your mother I’m passing her to my friends tonight. No Igbo sounds please ! Tueh.”
In another (private) response to Consigliere, Bello doubled down on the vulgar language while at the same time insulting Nnamdi Kanu:
“Your mother is the main whore of the South-East. I can’t reply you publicly. F**k Kanu and take a picture of the second Niger Bridge, thanks to Buhari. My mentions are mine. If a Sunday bastard makes up lies and drags my father, his mother will be games. If he doesn’t want it, he shouldn’t mention me. The crowd has never pleased me.”
“Truly your mother’s son. Does she still earn by earning 2,019 Naira per suck on Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Aba LGA ” Tell her to wear mask and gloves while doing it due to pandemic.”
Unfortunately, the person Bello contended with informed him that he was not even Igbo.
Seeing the exchanges, Former Education Minister and presidential candidate, Oby Ezekwesili who was obviously not happy with the altercation tried to call Bello to order in a reply to his tweet:
“@B_ELRUFAI Did I just see horrific tweets from your handle threatening gang-rape ? Why that ? Why the ethnic vitriol toward Igbos ? What’s that, Bello ? Too tragic. You need to not just immediately apologise for those vile tweets but get into an Anger Management program quickly,
“I have maintained that we can disagree without being disagreeable. We can object without being objectionable. Healthy debates and divergences that arise are important for democratic development of societies.”
Ezekwesili then attempted to call the other tweeter to order and Bello’s response was unfortunately not what she expected:
“I guess I made my point. Since Aunty Oby called out one person. Progress I guess. As I told her, if you don’t do that, they enter our mentions, we will do that for them. In all sincerity, this was needed. Be careful who you choose to insult. You might not like the reply.”
Still not remorseful he added:
Obviously enjoying the rant, Bello tweeted further:
Public opinion:
Other social media users expressed the same shock at Bello’s attacks. Nnamdi attempts to call him to order:
Bello’s mother’s intervention:
Obviously not having carefully evaluated the altercations, perhaps believing it was mere banters between Bello and his friends, his mother Hadiza replies:
“All you people talking about
“Don’t @ me. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. All is fair in love and war.
My belief: Respect everyone, but take no shit from anyone.
I didn’t see any threats of rape. I would never condone that.”
A disappointed public attempt to call her attention to the development:
Hadiza’s apology:
“When I posted the tweet below, I assumed it was just the usual Twitter gbas-gbos. Having read the tweets chronologically, I have had conversations with Bello. Never ever should sexual abuse be employed as ammunition in public/ private exchanges, no matter the provocation.”
“I can see how my tweet may have come across, and I apologise to those who were offended by it. I say, once again, that I’d never condone sexual abuse in any shape or form”