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Tag: Shehu Sani

  • Politicians after re-election – Sani

    Politicians after re-election – Sani

    The Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, on Thursday accused Nigerian leaders of being insensitive to the killings and bloodshed in many parts of the country.

    Sani said political office holders are concerned about the next general elections, adding that instead of them to take decisive steps towards tackling the nation’s problems, they are busy strategizing on how to secure re-election in 2019.

    The Senator spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State, at a national conference organised by the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria (FIBAN).

    Delivering his lecture, Sani, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts, said Nigerian political parties are devoid of ideology.

    He lamented that the country was experiencing tension ahead of 2019 because politicians are desperate for spoils of office and not concerned about the welfare of those who elected them into office.

     

    He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a reluctant ruling party while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a timid opposition party.

    He advocated for peaceful protests by Nigerians to prick the conscience of those in government.

    “All is not well with this country. This is the wrong time to shed blood in Nigeria. If you think that people in power will stop the problem in the country, you are in for a fool’s ride. The attention of people is how to win elections and not how they can end senseless killings and bloodshed.

    “It would require a mass, peaceful march in the streets from Nigerians to recharge the conscience of people in power.

    “Nigerians are dying in hundreds and in thousands and some people felt what is important is INEC timetable, when is elections and when is primaries.

     

    “It is difficult to hear any public office holder speak the truth because of political calculations. Anybody who says we are not in crisis now is deceiving himself.

    “We are only differentiated by names. The PDP came into existence because there is a need to have a national party that will take over from the military. The APC came into power to de-establish the PDP and drive Jonathan out of power and in the process, we have all sorts of people.”

     

     

  • Shehu Sani on Buhari’s friends

    Shehu Sani on Buhari’s friends

    IN a philosophical excursion last week, Shehu Sani (Senate-Kaduna Central), suggested in a Facebook post to President Muhammadu Buhari that he would not know his true friends until after his presidency. According to the outspoken senator, “Baba (Buhari) will not know those who genuinely love him until someday when he is not in power. Then, he will sit down in his living room, balcony or garden; then, he will read comments and remarks by politicians he once thought meant what they said. Most of the political elite don’t love Baba, they simply fear him. They fear him because of his mass appeal among the poor and his ‘vindictiveness.’ What they say about him in public is not the same as what they say about him in private. They were silent and scheming when he was on health vacation (in London); now they are for Baba. Time will tell.”

    Quite apart from the fact that most rulers would rather be feared than loved, there is in fact nothing in President Buhari’s style that showed him a leader. He is instinctively a ruler. As former vice president Atiku Abubakar said when he publicly indicated his reasons for defecting back to the PDP, President Buhari was at heart a ruler rather than a leader. And since he, Alhaji Abubakar, would rather be led than ruled, he thought it wise to retrace his steps to a party that offered the best chance of leadership rather than rulership.

    Senator Sani is, however, right to warn that President Buhari would know his friends only after he had left office. But he is wrong to insinuate that the president cared whether any member of the political elite really loved him. The president is satisfied that the poor masses, the so-called talakawa, love him. The elite can go and hang. After all, after his deposition in 1985, though few gravitated towards him and would not even vote for him the three times he sought the presidency, until ex-president Godluck Jonathan’s poor governance made him somewhat appealing, he was satisfied that every time he made a public appearance the masses chanted his praise. Should the president return to that isolation after his time in office, as Senator Sani feared, he would still be indifferent.

  • Sani urges African leaders to tackle terrorism, illegal migration

    Sani urges African leaders to tackle terrorism, illegal migration

    The Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Shehu Sani, has advised African leaders to join hands and tackle terrorism and illegal migration.

    A statement issued on Friday in Abuja said the Senator gave the advice in an address to an assembly of Sudanese intellectuals and students at the International University of Africa, Khartoum, Sudan.

    Sani said terrorism and illegal migration were among the many challenges confronting Africa that required urgent attention.

    He said:”Terrorism not only represents a 21st century threat to global peace and stability but also to Muslims and Islam.

    ”Islam is confronted by two dangers on two fronts, from the inside and from the outside.

    ”The inside forces are those who manipulate and misuse the religion in furtherance of their extremist or political or violent agenda.

    ”And the outside are those with a mindset and conditioned to hate Muslims and anything associated with Islam.

    ”The need for humanity and the world to unite and defeat terrorism is urgent and necessary but it’s the Muslims that must lead the battle with common courage, common focus and collective determination.

    ”Terrorists are anarchists, their cruel actions and atrocious violence create bad perception and impression for the faith they falsely lay claim to belong to.”

    NAN

  • Shehu Sani goofed on Kaduna teachers!

    SIR: Senator Shehu Sani’s criticism of Nasir El-Rufai’s decision on sacking those far-below-average teachers in Kaduna State is highly condemnable.

    Every profession that deals with life directly should not be taken with levity. And teaching is one of those professions.

    Can Senator Shehu Sani allow any of those teachers to take his children in a private home lesson?

    This is not a topic to play politics with.

    I would have agreed with his criticism if it is on the fact that the state government committed recruitment error in the first place by employing such class of people, as most of them got employed through the man-know-man syndrome vampire rampaging in our society.

    There are lots of brains wasting in the labour market today for the future of the country to be left to academic mediocres.

    Sacking them from education sector is a good thing. But they should be given an alternative to feed their women and children lest they get recruited by men of the underworld in the region, leveraging on their idle hands.

    Governor El-Rufai should consider replacing them in the state’s farming sector which will help the economy of Kaduna State in return.

    They are not a waste. But not just fit for this particular field.  What never got spoilt in a day cannot be repaired in just a day.

    However, this is a step in a right direction from Governor El-Rufai.

     

    • Bamidele Williams,

    Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

  • Senate approves $350m World Bank loan for Ogun Development Policy Operation

    Senate approves $350m World Bank loan for Ogun Development Policy Operation

    The Senate at plenary on Thursday approved 350 million dollars World Bank loan for Ogun State Development Policy Operation ( DPO ) as contained in the 2016-2018 Rolling Plan.

    The approval followed the presentation of a report on the loan by Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Sen. Shehu Sani.

    Presenting the report, Sani said that the committee observed that the Ogun State DPO budget for the loan had been approved by World Bank in 2016.

    He added that the loan was further captured in the 2016-2018 borrowing plan as approved by the National Assembly.

    Sani noted that the committee also observed that the credit facility had an attractive low financing rate of 125 per cent interest, moratorium of five years and a five-year maturity term.

    He said “the facility has already been captured in the 2016-2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

    “It also has low and acceptable loan sustainability level, therefore it is eligible to borrow.

    “The DPO loan will further help to enhance the capacity of the state government.

    “The state has met the various conditions laid by World Bank and as such qualified for the loan.

    “It has also put in place institutional framework for transparent and accountable budgetary and financial purpose.”

    He explained that the projects to be funded by the facility would engender economic growth, increase revenue generation and create employment opportunities.

    “The committee recommends that the Senate should go ahead and approve the loan as contained in the 2016-2018 external borrowing rolling plan of President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ Sani added.

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, put the report to  voice vote and was adopted by the lawmakers.

    NAN

  • Nigeria must borrow responsibly – Shehu Sani

    Nigeria must borrow responsibly – Shehu Sani

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Sen. Shehu Sani, says if Nigeria must borrow, it must borrow responsibly.

    Sani gave the advice in a meeting with the Ministers of Transportation; Finance; Budget and National Planning and Power, Works and Housing on Thursday in Abuja.

    The meeting was in connection with President Muhammadu Buhari’s loan request of 5.5 billion dollars.

    Sani said: “the committee has the mandate to examine the merits and otherwise of the current loan request of 5.5 billion dollars of the president.

    “If we must bequeath to the future generation a pile of debt, it must be justified with commensurate infrastructural proof of the value of the debt.

    “The payment plan of this debt will undoubtedly last the length of our lifetimes and possibly beyond.

    “We must leave behind a legacy that will appease and answer the questions the next generation of Nigerians will ask,” Sani said.

    In his submission, Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, said that the central rail line project connecting several communities of northern and southern Nigeria would be completed in June, next year.

    According to him, 17 coaches are expected to arrive in November and out of the number, 10 will be deployed to Abuja-Kaduna rail line while the remaining seven will be deployed to the Itakpe-Warri rail line.

    Amaechi said that part of the money being requested now for approval by the senate was to execute the rail projects covering Kano-Kaduna, and Lagos-Ibadan networks.

    He informed the senators that Buhari’s directive was that all the 36 state capitals of Nigeria must be connected by the ongoing rail projects.

    Also providing insight into the loan request, the Director-General, Debt Management Office, Mrs Patience Oniha, explained that the loans have sustainable benefits that would live beyond the present generation of Nigerians.

    “What we should take away is that we are going into projects whose benefits don’t go away.

    “The roads don’t go away, the schools don’t go away, and the hospitals don’t go away but all that we need to do is to maintain them properly and that is the explanation I want to make on that,” she said.

    NAN

  • Buhari’s failure to implement report on SGF dangerous for APC – Shehu Sani

    Buhari’s failure to implement report on SGF dangerous for APC – Shehu Sani

    The Senator representing Kaduna Central in the upper legislative chamber, Shehu Sani, on Monday warned that failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to implement Vice President Yemi Osinbajo- led committee’s report on alleged corruption in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North East posed a serious threat to survival of All Progressives Congress (APC) beyond 2019.

    Sani, who the Chairman of Senate Committee on humanitarian crisis in the North East, also warned that any further delay to make the report centred on the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, available to Nigerians would tarnish the long built integrity, reputation and credibility of President Buhari himself.

    Fielding questions from journalists shortly after he handed over documents of a newly purchased skill acquisition centre to leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna, the senator said the fight against corruption should not limited to people in the opposition parties alone but also people within the APC to show Nigerians that the party meant well for the people.

    He said: “I am as worried as any meaningful Nigerian. I personally investigated the handling of the funds in the North East part of the country. Presidency also set up a committee headed by Vice President Osinbajo who has also completed its investigation and submitted its report. But it’s been months now that Mr. President came back to the country and nothing has been heard of it.

    “That is why I said, I hope the report has not been eaten by rodents and soft copy infected by virus. But if there is nothing of such, I believe Mr. President must seriously take action against this. And if he doesn’t, then the proverbial insecticide and deodorant will simply be applied.

    “If we are serious about fighting corruption, it should be total not only people that are far from us or people who are not in our party. Our President should know that his credibility and integrity are hanging until this issue is addressed and he has to address it very well.

    “There should be no hidden place, there should be no immunity as much as we have the will, the capacity to put the people from opposition parties to jail, we should also do that to people who come from APC if they are guilty. That will show we are serious about what we are doing except if we have double face anti-corruption crusade which is not good for this country.

    “The whole Nigeria is waiting for him to act. He should not allow his love, his passion and soft-heartedness for people whom he hold closely deny him his good name. He should move because is either their names or his and I believe he should safe his name first.

    “So, I’m appealing to Mr. President to expedite action on the report before him on how people misused and abused their position in office and enrich themselves. This report must be made public and President must take action on it not tomorrow but today.”

  • Endorsement of El-Rufai a charade – Sen Sani

    Endorsement of El-Rufai a charade – Sen Sani

    The Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, on Tuesday, faulted the reported endorsement of Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai for the second term by the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Senator Sani, who is chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts dubbed endorsement as a charade that cannot stand.

    The outspoken lawmaker said that El-Rufai simply gathered his employees, aide and hangers-on to actualize his endorsement for the second term.

    He noted that because the chances of El-Rufai becoming vice president which was allegedly aiming for while President Buhari was away on medical has failed with the return of the president, the Kauna governor has taken up another project for Buhari.

    He added that El-Rufai’s name dropping and mobilization for President Buhari for 2019 is self-serving while his loyalty to the president is questionable.

    Sani said: “The so-called endorsement of Governor El-Rufai by Kaduna APC amounts to an endorsement of toxic waste.

    “El-Rufai simply gathered his employees, aides and hangers-on to endorse him.

    “He is a poisonous viper corrosive to the integrity and moral standing of the party in the state and the nation.

    “El-Rufai name dropping and mobilization for Buhari 2019 is self-serving. His loyalty to Buhari is for political relevance and his allegiance to Buhari is for self-protection and preservation.

    “Now that President Buhari is back from health vacation and the chances of becoming a Vice President is zero, Elrufai has taken up a new project for Buhari 2019.

    “El-Rufai obsession with Buhari is not about Buhari but about himself. Buhari should protect his testicles from a man who always bends close to his knees.

    “Those who endorsed El-Rufai are marketing a bottled fart. A man who boasts of sending Yar’adua to his grave should not be trusted by Buhari. The snake that killed the hunter can kill the charmer.”

  • Sani to Buhari: Purge presidency of hyenas, jackals now

    Sani to Buhari: Purge presidency of hyenas, jackals now

    The Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Shehu Sani has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently  purge his cabinet of hyenas, jackals and wolves in his efforts to move the country forward.

    Senator Sani who described the Hyenas, Jackals and wolves as elements within the cycle of presidency, said they have personal interest other than that of Mr. President.

    The human right activist and politician who spoke with newsmen who paid him a Sallah homage said the need for the President to overhaul his cabinet now more than ever before cannot be over-emphasised.

    Senator Sani who is the Senate committee chairman on local and foreign debts described those he wants sent packing  as “the mafias that exists within presidency whose intents are different from that of president himself but they are part of what is called presidency.”

    According to him, “One thing the President needs to do which is very important is a need for him to take a proactive stand in order to reset his presidency by looking at his cabinet in totality. Those who have failed should be shown the way out and those who have not been able to perform satisfactorily should be replaced or reshuffled.

    “But it is time for Mr. President to throw some people out of his cabinet and change the portfolio of some of them so they can help him to perform better. There is mid term fatigue that exists and the only way out is to bring in capable hands.

    “If the first appointment into office was to appease the political interest, I think the president now should appoint those who are capable of delivering the mission, the vision and the programme of his own administration,” Sabi said.

    Senator Sani who is also the President of Civil Rights Congress (CRC) in Nigeria further said,  “There is a message I’m sending to Mr. President to fumigate and disinfect presidency in the general interest of his own government and also the country as a whole.”

  • Buhari spoke the minds of Nigerians – Shehu Sani

    Buhari spoke the minds of Nigerians – Shehu Sani

    The senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has said President Muhammadu Buhari spoke the mind of Nigerians in his Monday’s broadcast.

    Sani said on his Facebook page that President Buhari has demonstrated that he cherished the nation’s unity, peace and collective progress.

    The senator said: “He spoke as a nationalist and spoke my mind a hundred percent. He sent a clear message to terrorists, ethnic irredentists, secessionists and champions of sectionalism that this union is an indissoluble matrimony in all circumstances.

    “The President’s speech was a lion’s roar meant to reaffirm and reinforce the unity of a nation showing signs of disintegration during his absence.

    “The President’s speech was a lion’s roar re-establishing full control of a staggering clime heading to an engineered implosion during his absence.

    “The President’s speech was a lion’s roar meant to wake up a slumbering nation dangerously forgetting the lessons of its history and the calling of its future.

    “The President’s speech was a lion’s roar meant to extinguish the Soviet/Yugoslavia inferno stoking in our country. During the President’s absence, our hard earned trophy of peace and plaque of unity were gathering dust and gradually being eaten by ants and bugs, the lion roared to clear them.

    “Our dreams and vision for a better country can be achieved without the need to subscribe to disorder or surrender to it. The roaring lion may have disappointed ‘Biafranistas’ and ‘Restructuristas’ and ‘Evictionistas’ but it’s pleasing to ‘Nigerianistas.”