Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, has launched a vehement critique against former Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Rotimi Amaechi, a past Minister of Transportation. Sani accused the pair of hypocrisy and selfish political motives following their recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly remarks where they blamed Tinubu's policies for escalating hunger and poverty in Nigeria. Sani characterized them as the primary architects of the very issues they now publicly decry.

Speaking to the media from his Kaduna residence, Senator Sani asserted that both El-Rufai and Amaechi lack the moral authority to pass judgment on the current government. He argued that they failed to confront these identical challenges during their own extensive periods in power. “El-Rufai and Amaechi should bow their heads in shame,” Sani declared. “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.”

Sani contended that the criticisms from El-Rufai and Amaechi are not born out of genuine concern for the Nigerian populace but rather from personal disappointment over not securing appointments within President Tinubu’s cabinet. “There’s nothing wrong with criticising a government,” Sani conceded, “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, including El-Rufai and Amaechi, of attempting to undermine and destabilize Tinubu’s government after failing to secure positions. Sani also specifically pointed to El-Rufai, alleging he fostered conditions that allowed banditry to thrive in Kaduna State during his eight-year governorship.

The former senator's remarks were partly a response to comments made by Nasir El-Rufai at Rotimi Amaechi’s 60th birthday lecture in Abuja. During this event, El-Rufai claimed that Nigeria is currently being managed by “urban bandits”—individuals holding power in cities, distinct from those in forests—and warned that the nation is significantly off track, facing its most severe crisis since 1914. El-Rufai urged Nigerians to elect leaders based on competence and vision. However, Sani dismissed these assertions as self-serving, insincere, and politically motivated.

Sani elaborated on the past performance of these former officials, stating, “These individuals controlled the affairs of the country for eight years under the Buhari administration. 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, plagued by insecurity, poverty, and lack of infrastructure.” He lamented that despite their considerable influence, they failed to make a positive impact on the North or Nigeria as a whole.

Despite his strong criticisms of past leaders, Sani called on Nigerians to acknowledge the progress, however limited, achieved under the current Tinubu administration, particularly in the realm of security. He cited specific examples, noting, “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 Staff.”

While highlighting these improvements, Sani also acknowledged that insecurity continues to plague parts of Northern Nigeria, including Katsina and Zamfara States. Nevertheless, he insisted that the overall security situation has seen improvement compared to the conditions under the previous administration. He urged President Tinubu to intensify efforts to address the socio-economic needs of Northern Nigeria and encouraged the administration to remain open to constructive criticism, provided it is not fueled by political bitterness or personal agendas.

Concluding his address, Senator Sani emphasized the need for Nigeria to learn from its past errors. “The country will only achieve greatness when development is evenly distributed, and criticism is driven by patriotism rather than self-interest,” he stated. He called for a form of critique rooted in genuine concern for national progress, warning against politically motivated attacks disguised as public interest commentary, and asserted that sustainable progress requires both equitable development and principled opposition.