Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has lashed out at ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, accusing them of attacking President Bola Tinubu’s administration out of frustration over their exclusion from political appointments.
Sani, who served in the 8th Senate, took aim at the two former governors for what he described as hypocritical criticisms of Tinubu’s policies, particularly in relation to rising hunger and poverty in the country.
“El-Rufai and Amaechi should bow their heads in shame,” Sani declared during a press briefing at his residence in Kaduna.
“They are the architects of the banditry, poverty, and hunger they now pretend to lament. During their tenure, they did nothing to solve these issues, and now they cry foul simply because they have been left out of the current government.”
His comments come in the wake of a public lecture delivered in honour of Amaechi, where El-Rufai claimed that “urban bandits” had taken over the governance structure of Nigeria. Sani dismissed the remarks as self-serving.
“There’s nothing wrong with criticising a government,” he stated.
“But when such criticism stems from personal disappointment over missed appointments rather than genuine concern for the people, it becomes dangerous.”
He accused officials from the immediate past Muhammadu Buhari administration, including El-Rufai and Amaechi, of attempting to sabotage the current administration after failing to secure roles within Tinubu’s cabinet.
“These individuals controlled the affairs of the country for eight years. They had the power, the resources, and the influence to transform the North into a socio-economic model for the rest of the country. Instead, they left it in a worse condition,” Sani lamented.
He noted improvements in certain security situations under Tinubu’s leadership, urging the public to acknowledge the progress, no matter how minimal.
“Today, people can travel the Birnin Gwari Road, which was once a death trap due to incessant bandit attacks. The Southern part of Kaduna, once abandoned, is now relatively peaceful thanks to the efforts of the current Chief of Defence,” Sani said.
While acknowledging that states like Katsina and Zamfara still face serious security issues, Sani insisted that the overall situation is better compared to what existed during the previous administration.
He encouraged Tinubu to do more for Northern Nigeria while welcoming constructive criticism—one rooted in patriotism, not bitterness.
“Nigeria must learn from its past. The country will only achieve greatness when development is evenly distributed, and criticism is driven by patriotism rather than self-interest,” he concluded.
