Hajia Mohammed wrote on Facebook: “He is insane for insulting the prophet. He is not a true Muslim, for no true worshipper will say this. Some people say no God and he is one of them.”

Yemi Kosoko, on Facebook, also wrote: “It’s a pity that such people like el-Rufai have held positions of authority in this country and are still saying such things. However, it is also an indication that he needs his head examined for tweeting or re-tweeting such.

“By their fruits, we shall know them. Some sponsors of Boko Haram are beginning to surface. El-Rufai is not worthy to be a leader in this country!”

Abdul Kadir Danbaba also wrote: “el-Rufai is a vile fool. Why would you re-tweet such about sacred (issues). We Muslims know it is wrong to do such. He even felt the silly and blasphemous tweet was funny when he added LWKMD.”

DmOvada on Facebook said: “I hope el-Rufai will tweet an apology soon” while Emeka Madunagu said: “I’m not surprised at el-Rufai’s thoughtless tweet. It’s unfortunate that a well-educated Nigerian like el-Rufai cannot articulate sensible views without offending religious sensibilities.

“He has tried again and again to link the bombings of churches in Northern Nigeria to Christians. Having failed, he goes ahead to ridicule the Lord Jesus Christ. I expect CAN to demand a full apology from him. It’s a shame.”

@dreyinker on tweeter said: “Mallam Nasir el-Rufai is a goat. He will soon receive the wrath of God. People like him are the ones supporting Boko Haram. Foolish fool.”

In her tweet, @Jemilatu, said: “This man can’t speak for us the youths from the North. He is on his own and every true Muslim must condemn this silly re-tweet of his. It is vile and blasphemous.”

Ibrahim Safana wrote on Facebook: “@El-Rufai: Sir, with all due respect. I get your point in this joke. But why Jesus?”

Cade on Facebook said: “When we are talking of common sense, we must eschew sentiment from it… As a Christian, I really don’t feel offended when a joke is made of Jesus but Islam as this article pointed out has been unforgiving to anybody that jokes with the name of Prophet Mohammed and thousands of both Muslims and non-Muslims have been killed for that… Either Rufai and his cronies are impostors or naive.”

Jude Bassey wrote:  “You would not tweet what you do not agree with. Obviously, Nasir el-Rufai agrees with the rubbish of that tweet. This is definitely the workings of a depraved and constricted mind! Indeed, fanaticism is the outgrowth of constricted minds like el-Rufai! Very sad! I hope he would be decent enough to renounce that stupid re-tweet!!!”

Following these reactions, El-Rufai was forced to tender a public ‘apology’.

El Rufai’s apology reads:

“Hello Friends. I have been travelling and try to catch some sleep in between the last 24 hours and missed all the furore arising from my re tweet of Ogunyemi Bukola’s (@zeebook) joke Maku eat al and Jesus. I must say I am taken aback by the extent of desperate misrepresentation of what was an innocuous attempt to show the godlessness of the Jonathanians to denigrate anyone that dares to ask them t…o be accountable.

“To those who were genuinely offended by the retweet, I apologize. I did not meant to offend anyone, neither did the @zeebook I know and featured as one of the Young Voices in my Friday Column. Jesus or Isa Alaihis Salaam is a respected prophet of Islam. Every Muslim accepts this in addition to his miraculous virgin birth. It is therefore absurd for any Muslim believer to disrespect Jesus Christ.

“I hope those in this class will see my point of view and accept my apologies for any offense or disappointment caused. And I advise everyone to read @zeebook’s timeline and mine to read EXACTLY what was tweeted rather than the second-hand reports of certain people who ALWAYS twist whatever I write or not write to achieve their morally-repugnant objectives.

“To those in that class of liar – the political contractors who tried to attribute the entire statement to me to destroy perceived political capital, I say keep on doing that till the day your cups will be full. Everything these days is reduced to posturing for 2015,but those doing it do not even know which one of us will be alive to witness the events of that time. I leave all those to God and their conscience.

“To the Warriors of God, who misinterpret the Scriptures (both Bilble and Qur’an) and pretend to be capable of fighting His battles, please learn from history. The multiple Crusades and Jihads are yet to convert the entire human race into one religion. If God wished us all to be of one religion, He would have made us so. So please leave God’s work to Him, and just be good to other humans.

“I thank all my friends who stood up for me in this saga. They know me better than what the desperate Jonathanians want to paint as El-Rufai. And those that wish to know me a little batter should please read my forthcoming book.

Thanks and God Bless.”

But the apology came rather too late as a lot of condemnation still trailed the blasphemous tweet:

Emmanuel Ogbeche on Facebook:  “This is no apology. I don’t know what el-Rufai means by ‘Jonathanians’. You retweet an offensive tweet and claim Jonathanians are making mountains out of nothing? Sick!”

Iyabo Charles wrote: “El Rufai thought you were a responsible politician, but now I see you are one of the big he-goats using religious & sacred names for your innocuous post. Go and hug transformer and never again will I follow you on Facebook because I have totally lost respect for  you.”

Suzan Okpara said on Facebook: “I understand where you are coming from Mallam and I stand with you but for Christ sake for all the people physical and spiritual why is it that it’s our dear lord and personal saviour you had to use for your riddled sarcasm. Please we forgive you as good Christians but don’t try that again for whatever reason.”