A northern Christian youth group has praised the decision of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to allow former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai time to mourn and bury his late mother, describing the move as a reflection of the leadership style of President Bola Tinubu
In a press statement issued on Saturday, the Northern Christian Youth Professionals said the commission’s decision demonstrated compassion and respect for human dignity, values it said have continued to shape the Tinubu administration’s approach to governance.
The group noted that allowing El-Rufai to attend to family matters despite existing political disagreements with the president highlights what it called “politics without bitterness,” where humanity is placed above partisan differences.
According to the statement signed by its chairman, Isaac Abrak, the gesture sends a strong signal that leadership should be guided not only by authority and political interests but also by empathy and understanding.
“The humane decision by the ICPC reflects a leadership disposition that prioritises compassion and respect for human dignity,” Abrak said. “It shows that governance can be conducted with empathy even in the midst of political disagreements.”
The group stressed that the development was particularly noteworthy given the widely known political differences between Tinubu and El-Rufai, arguing that the decision reinforces the president’s belief that political competition should not erase shared human values.
Abrak said the move stands in contrast to earlier periods in Nigeria’s political history when leaders were accused of showing little compassion in similar circumstances.
He recalled that former president Muhammadu Buhari was reportedly not allowed to attend his mother’s burial while he was detained after the 1985 change of government led by Ibrahim Babangida, an episode that generated public criticism at the time.
“Many Nigerians viewed that situation as reflective of a rigid leadership approach that placed limited emphasis on humanity,” the statement said.
The group argued that Tinubu’s leadership has demonstrated that governance can be exercised with grace and empathy without undermining the rule of law.
It also emphasised that granting El-Rufai time to mourn does not interfere with ongoing legal processes, stressing that investigations or judicial procedures should continue after the burial in accordance with the law.
“The pursuit of justice must remain firm,” Abrak added, “but it should not come at the expense of compassion when a citizen is faced with a moment of personal loss.”
The Northern Christian Youth Professionals urged leaders and institutions across Nigeria to emulate what it described as a balanced approach that upholds both humanity and accountability.
