Bello El-Rufai Mourns as His “No-Nonsense” Mum, Safiya, Passes On

The El-Rufai family and the people of Kaduna North are in mourning following the sudden passing of Hajia Safiya Ali Rufai, a woman described as the steel and soul of one of Nigeria’s most prominent political lineages.

Safiya, the widow of the late Air Vice Marshal Ali Rufai—elder brother to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai—breathed her last this Friday after a brief illness. Her passing marks the end of an era for a woman who was not just a relative to power, but a powerhouse of discipline and devotion in her own right.

The news was broken by her son, Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, Member of the House of Representatives. In a poignant tribute that captured the weight of his grief, the lawmaker painted a picture of a mother whose love was as firm as it was deep.

“She was fierce, disciplined, devout, and compassionate,” Bello El-Rufai shared. “She was an ardent disciplinarian whose presence will be sorely missed.”

To many, Safiya was the quiet force behind the scenes—the “mother to many” who held the family together through seasons of both triumph and profound tragedy.

Safiya’s life was a testament to endurance. She had previously navigated the heartbreak of losing two daughters, Yaya Zainabu and Yaya Farida, losses that would have broken many. Yet, she remained a “patriarchal figure” within the extended Ali Rufai household, upholding the legacy of her late husband.

The El-Rufai family is currently receiving an outpouring of condolences from across the country as they prepare to lay their matriarch to rest. Hon. Bello El-Rufai urged the public to remember her in their prayers, asking for her soul to be elevated to the highest level of paradise (Jannatul Firdaus).

The lawmaker concluded his announcement with a sobering reflection on the unpredictable nature of life, reminding followers that “indeed, Allah knows best.” It was a message of faith in the face of a heavy loss, echoing the sentiment: Allah ya kara mana hakuri (May Allah grant us continued patience).