El-Rufai Has No Understanding of Democracy — Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has accused ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of undermining democratic principles and promoting political thuggery during his administration.

Sani made the remarks on Monday during an interview on TVC’s Politics Tonight, while reacting to the recent clash between El-Rufai and the Kaduna State Government over the disruption of the ADC coalition transition committee’s inauguration by suspected thugs.

Mallam Nasir Elrufai

“For people like Nasir, when they found themselves in a position or office, they don’t know what democracy is all about because they didn’t fight for it,” Sani said.
“He’s an unknown figure before 1999 and became a PDP (member). He has never been in the cell for one. He has never been in prison. He has never worn handcuffs.”

The former lawmaker contrasted his own political journey with El-Rufai’s, noting that he endured persecution and imprisonment in the struggle for democracy.
“As you see me here, I have been through the rough times of my life. I’ve been through many prisons, I have been through many police stations. I wore prison uniforms. I wore leg chains, I wore handcuffs as a political prisoner fighting for this democracy that is 25 years old,” he stated.

Sani further accused El-Rufai of cultivating political violence in Kaduna during his tenure.
“To show you that Nasir El-Rufai was the founder and the architect of thuggery, political violence and bloodshed in Kaduna State, within the time he served as a governor from 2015 to 2023, he has bred a group of thugs that became his unofficial force being used against political opponents,” he alleged.

He also criticised the former governor’s leadership style, describing him as arrogant and intolerant of dissent.
“He didn’t care when he was in office. He didn’t listen to anybody. Nobody can talk to him. Nobody can caution him. Nobody can restrain him. That’s why he can sack thousands of teachers and go free. He can sack thousands of civil servants and go free. He can demolish anybody’s house,” Sani added.