Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, publicly celebrated his parents as they marked 41 years of marriage on Sunday, August 17. In an emotional message shared on his official X account, @B_ELRUFAI, Bello addressed both his father and his mother, Hajiya Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, reflecting on their shared history, sacrifices, and enduring bond.
From Friendship at ABU to 41 Years of Marriage
According to Bello, the couple first became close friends while studying at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), before either of them had reached their twenties. He described their four decades together as a journey marked by "shared dreams, difficult days, joyful moments, sacrifices, growth and memories."
"Forty one years of choosing each other through different seasons of life," he wrote.
A Tribute to Hajiya Hadiza
Bello gave particular attention to his mother in the post, describing her as "an extraordinary writer and novelist and a brilliant architect" with a rare ability to transform lived experience into words. He said the 41-year story she and his father have written together was not recorded on pages, but lived out in a shared life.
He also acknowledged both parents' public careers, noting that Hajiya Hadiza served as First Lady during Nasir El-Rufai's tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and later as Governor of Kaduna State. Bello, however, made clear that those roles were secondary to what the couple share privately.
"The role of Minister of FCT as she served as First Lady and his role as Governor of Kaduna as she served as First Lady is secondary to what they share and continue to share," he wrote.
Remembering Late Siblings and Another Anniversary
In his message, Bello mentioned that his late siblings, Yasmin and Hamza, "will be proud" of the milestone their parents have reached. He also noted that August holds another anniversary in the family. A few days before the 17th, Nasir El-Rufai marked his anniversary with his second wife, who Bello referred to as "Aunty Asia."
Bello closed his post with a prayer for his parents, asking that Allah bless their union, deepen their love and friendship, and grant them many more years of good health and happiness.
"May the years ahead be even more beautiful than those behind you," he wrote, signing off as "Bello, Jika Hanta."
Previous Celebrations
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Mohammed El-Rufai, the lawmaker representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, publicly celebrated his parents, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his wife, Asia, on the occasion of their 27th wedding anniversary. In a Facebook post shared on Friday, Mohammed described his step-mother as the "glue" that holds the family together, praising her compassion, intelligence and dedication to people beyond her immediate household.
