*Says he’s paying for his irresponsibility in office
By Yakubu Bello
Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Comrade Shehu Sani, has said that former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is paying the price for his misgovernance and irresponsibility while in public office.
Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, stated this during an interview session on Politics yesterday on Channels Television anchored by Seun Okimbaloye.
The former lawmaker said the immediate-past Kaduna governor during his eight-year tenure, did not spare any critic of his government and had no respect for the rule of law.
According to Sani, El-Rufai’s administration was notorious for clamping down on dissenting voices, including journalists, activists, and religious leaders.
“El-Rufai is paying the price for his misgovernance and his irresponsibility when he was in public office… During his tenure, he had no respect for the rule of law; he doesn’t obey court orders; he arrested many people and sent them to jail, and today he has found himself in the very place where he has taken so many people,” Sani said.
He alleged that El-Rufai’s government arrested journalists who wrote critical pieces against his government and also arrested Christian leaders who came out to protest against the killing of their leader in Kaduna.
“…the list is endless and the stories are everywhere,” Sani added.
Shehu Sani’s comments come amid the ongoing political travails of the former Kaduna State Governor, who has been in the news over alleged probes, political realignments, and speculations about his current standing with the Federal Government and security agencies.
Sani and El-Rufai fell out politically after Sani’s tenure as Senator, with Sani accusing El-Rufai of running an authoritarian government that stifled opposition and civic space in Kaduna State. El-Rufai, on the other hand, accused Sani of anti-party activities and non-performance as Senator.
During his tenure from 2015 to 2023, El-Rufai’s administration was frequently criticized by civil society organizations, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and opposition parties for alleged high-handedness, demolition of properties, sacking of workers, and detention of critics.
Notable cases included the arrest of journalist Luka Binniyat, activist Audu Maikori, and former NUJ Chairman, among others, over allegations of false reports and incitement, cases that attracted national and international condemnations at the time.
Sani argued that those actions are now coming back to haunt the former governor, describing it as poetic justice and a lesson for public office holders on the importance of respecting fundamental human rights and the rule of law while in power.
“What goes around comes around. When you are in power, you should know that power is transient. You should respect the law, respect the people and respect the institutions. El-Rufai did not do that,” Sani said on Politics Today.
As of the time of filing this report, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has not officially responded to Senator Shehu Sani’s latest remarks.
However, supporters of the former governor have in the past defended his administration, describing his style as tough but necessary to reform Kaduna State, restore urban planning and block leakages.
The war of words between the two former political allies from Kaduna State continues to dominate political discourse in the North West state, as the 2027 general elections approach.
