Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has revealed the real reason behind his failed re-election bid in 2019, blaming his opposition to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s controversial $340 million foreign loan.
In an interview in Abuja, Sani stated that his insistence on speaking truth to power cost him his seat in the National Assembly.
“El-Rufai wanted to secure a $340 million loan, and we said no. We warned that it would place a heavy financial burden on our people, but he saw us as political enemies,” Sani said.
According to him, his defiance led to a political battle that saw him and others pushed out of the party.
“I stood up to the governor, and I paid the price. But today, I am vindicated. Even the current governor has publicly admitted that the state is financially strangled due to that loan. Kaduna is now the second most indebted state in Nigeria, with abandoned projects scattered everywhere.”
Despite losing his Senate seat, Sani maintains that his stance was worth it.
“When I die, no one will point at my grave and say I signed off on a loan that will take 100 years to repay. That vindication matters more to me than returning to the Senate,” he declared.
He also pointed out a broader issue in Nigerian politics, where lawmakers are often replaced due to their refusal to align with state governors.
“In developed countries, lawmakers serve for decades, but in Nigeria, if you speak truth to power, you will struggle to return. Governors control who gets elected to the legislature, and loyalty—not competence—is often the main qualification for leadership positions in the National Assembly.”
Sani cited the 2015 leadership struggle under President Buhari as an exception, where Saraki and Dogara emerged as Senate President and Speaker against the executive’s wishes.
“A governor ensures that the House Speaker is not necessarily the most intelligent or competent person, but rather someone who is 100% loyal,” he added.
Sani’s revelations shed light on the power struggles shaping Nigeria’s political landscape, where loyalty often trumps governance.
