The lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, Senator Shehu Sani, has replied Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state, and a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who recently blamed President Bola Tinubu’s policies for rising hunger and poverty in the country.
Sani accused the duo of hypocrisy and selfish political motives while describing them as architects of banditry and hunger.
Recall that El-Rufai had while speaking at Amaechi’s 60th birthday lecture in Abuja said Nigeria is being run by “urban bandits,” not the kind hiding in forests, but those holding power in the cities.
He warned that the country is off track and facing its worst crisis since 1914, urging Nigerians to vote for leaders with competence and vision.
But Sani while speaking to the media in Kaduna noted that, “both El-Rufai and Amaechi have no moral ground to criticize the current administration, as they failed to address the same challenges during their time in power.”
According to him, “El-Rufai and Amaechi should bow their heads in shame. 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.”
He maintained that there was nothing wrong with criticizing a government, “But when such criticism stems from personal disappointment over missed appointments rather than genuine concern for the people, it becomes dangerous.”
He further accused former officials from the Muhammadu Buhari administration of attempting to undermine Tinubu’s government after failing to secure positions in his 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 called on Nigerians to recognize the progress, however limited, that has been made under the current government, especially in terms of security.
“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,” he noted.
While acknowledging that insecurity still persists in parts of the North, such as Katsina and Zamfara States, Sani insisted that the situation has improved compared to what existed under the previous administration.
He urged President Tinubu to do more for Northern Nigeria while also encouraging openness to criticism — as long as it’s constructive and not driven by political 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 said
