Tag: Shehu Sani

Kaduna Central: Election Tribunal Dismisses Senator Shehu Sani’s Petition

 

The National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in the Kaduna State capital has dismissed the petition brought before it by the Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Senator Shehu Sani.

Senator Shehu Sani is challenging the election victory of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Uba Sani at the February 23 polls.

READ ALSO: I Do Not Feel Impact Of Returning Ministers, Says Bode George

Delivering judgment on the petition brought before it on Wednesday, by the former lawmaker who represented Kaduna central in the eighth National Assembly, the Chairman of the Tribunal Justice A. H Suleiman dismissed the petition for lack of merit.

Senator Uba Sani, who is the candidate of the APC defeated the former lawmaker with 355,242 votes at the election.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Lawal Adamu, scored 195,497 while Sani of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) scored 70,613 votes.

In a two hour judgment read by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Suleiman arrived at the decision based on the evidence presented before it.

The lead counsel to Senator Uba Sani, Frank Ikpe, said the Tribunal upheld the election of Senator Uba Sani based on the evidence before it.

Atiku, SERAP, Others Condemn Sowore’s Arrest

Akitu, SERAP, Others Condemn Sowore’s Arrest

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other Nigerians have condemned the arrest of Mr Omoyele Sowore.

Some of the prominent citizens took to Twitter on Saturday to call for Sowore’s release hours after he was reportedly picked up by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a post, the former vice president described the arrest as “kidnapping in the guise”, stressing that freedom of speech was part of the nation’s democracy.

For the Socio-Economic Right And Accountability Project (SERAP), Sowore’s unconditional release would be “first step to stop Nigeria’s precipitous human rights slide”.

On his part, a civil rights activist and former member of the Senate, Senator Shehu Sani, faulted those he described as political elites allergic to the freedoms they once stood for.

He also accused the so-called elites of sponsoring protest and attacks on human rights organisation, Amnesty International.

READ ALSO: DSS Arrests Omoyele Sowore

A former minister and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, also condemned Sowore’s arrest.

He said the arrest was unnecessary and uncalled for, adding that Sowore should be released immediately and unconditionally.

Similarly, former minister Oby Ezekwesili called on well-meaning Nigerians to stand with Sowore and defend his right and freedom to protest any matter of governance that worries him.

Sowore, an activist and publisher of online news platform SaharaReporters, was said to have been picked up at his apartment in the early hours of Saturday.

He made his arrest known via his Twitter handle at about 1:25 am.

A minute after, the former presidential candidate tweeted “Ja p” which, according to his news platform, confirms his phone must have been seized while trying to raise the alarm about his arrest.

The news website added that its publisher’s arrest was not unconnected to #RevolutionNow, a series of planned protests against bad governance in the country scheduled for August 5, 2019.

Mr Sowore contested the presidential election on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC).

Read the tweets below:

Shehu Sani Asks President Buhari To Fix Insecurity, Economy

I’m Yet To Leave APC – Shehu Sani
Senator Shehu Sani (file)

 

Senator Shehu Sani has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to fix the nation’s security and economic challenges.

Appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the former lawmaker said the spate of attacks in parts of the country can be handled as terrorism affects other countries of the world.

“From the report which we have heard from the killings till going on, even the personnel of the army were even affected.

“We can still say that President Muhammadu Buhari has two major challenges before him – the economy and security.

“The President still has a lot to do. The earlier he does it, the better. Going for town halls, the meeting has not provided the right result,” he said.

When asked if the killings in Nigeria as claimed by Professor Wole Soyinka are beyond the nation’s capacity to handle, Shehu Sani said he believes the security apparatus can effectively contain the threats raging from kidnapping, banditry, terrorism among others.

READ ALSO: Narrowing Security Challenges To One Tribe Is Unfair, Says APC Member

He, however, wants the Federal Government to collaborate with neighbouring Cameroon, Niger, and Chad who also have a share of insurgency.

“These are things that can still be tackled because we are not isolated from the problem as a nation. Our neighbours too – Niger, Chad and Cameroon Republic are also facing the same problem.

The former Kaduna lawmaker also decried the situation whereby efforts geared towards tackling Boko Haram activities seem not to have yielded the desired results.

He lamented that terrorism in Nigeria has entered its tenth year with the war against banditry in its fifth year.

9th Assembly: I Don’t Think APC Has Learnt Its Mistake From 2015, Says Sani

 

The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, Mr Shehu Sani, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) may not have learnt its lessons from the 2015 incident that saw Senator Bukola Saraki and Honourable Yakubu Dogara emerge as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

While appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sani said that the interest of other APC lawmakers in the leadership positions for the 9th Assembly could result in a repeat of what happened four years ago.

“With what I have seen, there are a lot of statements coming from the APC making positions that they have learnt their mistakes and this time around, they are going to make some corrections and achieve what they want to achieve.

“But in the real sense, I don’t think lessons were learnt from what I can see on the ground. If lessons were learnt, there would be only one candidate from the APC. As long as we have three contenders from the APC, there is a likelihood of a repeat of what happened in 2015,” he stated.

READ ALSO: Osun Election: PDP Rejects Justice Oyewole’s Inclusion In Appeal Court Panel

Sani’s comments come a month after APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, said the party will not allow lawmakers of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to be appointed as chairmen of committees in the next parliament.

Oshiomhole explained that the party’s decision was to avoid a repeat of 2015, stressing that it had learnt from its mistakes.

Reacting to Oshiomhole’s statement, Sani noted that to be elected Senate President “is a game of numbers.”

Sani who defected to the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) shortly before the 2019 general elections from the ruling party, stated that for the APC’s preferred candidate to win the position, he has to reach out to the opposition lawmakers and strike a deal with them.

Recall that in 2015, the APC had anointed Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate President and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila for House Speaker, but that was not to be, as some scheming within the parliament saw to the emergence of Dr Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as leaders of the National Assembly.

Most Governors Spend Days In Abuja While Their States Are In Flames, Sani Claims

 

Senator Shehu Sani has thrown shade at governors who run off to the nation’s capital while and lodge in comfort while their states are on fire.

Sani in a tweet late on Monday said these governors spend days in Abuja all in the name of meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the governors spend Monday to Thursday in the FCT and on Friday they head to the mosques to pray with the president.

READ ALSO: Economy: Oil Cannot Save Nigeria – Ben Murray-Bruce

Meanwhile, Sani, the lawmaker representing Kaduna Central in the Senate has said that the killings across Nigeria stem from situations in which the political class and governing elites place more emphasis on political power than the lives of the common people.

Sani in a series of tweets on Monday opined that pampering power rather than questioning it is always tragic.

He said, “Political power is more important to the Governing elites and the Political class than the lives of the common people. The consequences of petting and pampering power when it should be consciously questioned and charged is always tragic.”

The parliamentarian further stressed that “a nation has lost its soul and humanity when it only has to take a public outrage, rebuke, and objection for its Leaders to respond to the tragedy of its people”.

Killings: Political Power, More Important To Governing Elites Than Peoples’ Lives – Shehu Sani

The Senator representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani,

 

Senator Shehu Sani has said that the killings across Nigeria stem from situations in which the political class and governing elites place more emphasis on political power than the lives of the common people.

Sani in a series of tweets on Monday opined that pampering power rather than questioning it is always tragic.

He said, “Political power is more important to the Governing elites and the Political class than the lives of the common people. The consequences of petting and pampering power when it should be consciously questioned and charged is always tragic.”

READ ALSO: Saudi Arabia: We Must Protect The Innocent And Neutralise Frame Ups – Shehu Sani

The lawmaker representing Kaduna central noted that “a nation has lost its soul and humanity when it only has to take a public outrage, rebuke, and objection for its Leaders to respond to the tragedy of its people”.

Speaking about the situation in Zamfara, Senator Sani said the suspension of mining activities in the state is a step in the right direction but will not be enough.

“Suspension of mining activities is a good step in ending illegal mining, but a nonstarter in ending Banditry. The nation is at war; the moral, historical & constitutional calling at times like this is for the leadership to frontally rise to the occasion in defence of this republic”

Saudi Arabia: We Must Protect The Innocent And Neutralise Frame Ups – Shehu Sani

 

Senator Shehu Sani has called for protection of innocent Nigerians and intensified efforts to neutralise frame ups in nations like Saudi Arabia where capital punishments exits for crimes like drugs smuggling.

Sani who in  tweet on Friday was reacting to the recent execution of a Nigerian in Saudi Arabia, noted that smuggling drugs to any country is condemnable.

The lawmaker said the act destroys the image of the nation and must not be condoned by anyone.

He however, noted that the nations owes it a duty to provide legal and diplomatic services to its citizens abroad as to protect the innocent and neutralize frame ups.

Meanwhile, Senator Sani has said that the insecurity challenge crippling the northeastern region is reinforced by silence and cowardice.

The Senator representing Kaduna Central made this assertion via social media.

READ ALSO: Policeman, Three Suspected Kidnappers Killed In Kaduna

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Sani said,  the cowardice of elites from the region who fail to speak up for the people is a major contributing factor to the insecurity challenges being faced.

“The collapse of security in the North is among other things reinforced by the silence or cowardice of those elites from the region who should speak truth to power now in their domain;the blatant refusal to hold Government to account because the President is from here, and the cancer and culture of blind loyalty founded on sectional, ethnic and religious sentiments in the face of tragedies,” Sani said.

He said the people must free themselves from following blindly and begin to hold the authorities to account.

“Our people must free themselves from the cancer and culture of blind loyalty founded on sectional, ethnic and religious sentiments and start holding Government to account to end their tragedies. Power respond or bows to an awakened people driven by the force of their conscience.”

Why Insecurity Persists In The Northeast – Shehu Sani

 

 

Senator Shehu Sani has said that the insecurity challenge crippling the northeastern region is reinforced by silence and cowardice.  

The Senator representing Kaduna Central made this assertion via social media.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Sani said,  the cowardice of elites from the region who fail to speak up for the people is a major contributing factor to the insecurity challenges being faced.

“The collapse of security in the North is among other things reinforced by the silence or cowardice of those elites from the region who should speak truth to power now in their domain;the blatant refusal to hold Government to account because the President is from here, and the cancer and culture of blind loyalty founded on sectional, ethnic and religious sentiments in the face of tragedies,” Sani said.

He said the people must free themselves from following blindly and begin to hold the authorities to account.

READ ALSO: Policeman, Three Suspected Kidnappers Killed In Kaduna

“Our people must free themselves from the cancer and culture of blind loyalty founded on sectional, ethnic and religious sentiments and start holding Government to account to end their tragedies. Power respond or bows to an awakened people driven by the force of their conscience.”

Sections of the media had reported on Monday that some commuters were kidnapped along the Abuja- Kaduna road.

However, the Kaduna Police Command debunked the alleged kidnapping, saying it was fake news.

In reaction to the reports Kaduna and other states within the north, Sani said, “Our security challenges; Kidnappings and killings, can’t be addressed by the use of ad-hoc actions; operation snakes, operation monkey, crocodile or any reptilian sloganeering. We must adopt the use of Drones, ICT and other Satellite navigational equipment to combat these criminals.”

VAT Increment: Jagaban Has Spoken His Truth And They Are Quiet – Sani Shades FG

 

Senator Shehu Sani Sani on Friday took a mild jab at the Federal Government over the recent report of a move to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT).

The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central seconded a call by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in which the APC chieftain urged the FG to halt every move to increase VAT in Nigeria.

Addressing a gathering at the Bola Tinubu Colloquium on Thursday in Abuja, the national leader of the APC advised the Nigerian Government against the move and warned that such a decision was capable of worsening the nation’s economic challenges.

“Consumers’ spending is slipping, and this is where I will stop and appeal to Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President, and his team to put a huge question mark on any increase of VAT, please,” the former governor pleaded.

He added, “If we reduce the purchasing power of the people, we can further slow down the economy.”

READ ALSO:  INEC Was Grossly Biased Against APC, Oshiomhole Claims

Following Tinubu’s call, Senator Sani took to Twitter taking a swipe at the government saying, “Jagaban has spoken his truth and they are quiet, but if it’s another person they would have a counter or ask why are you embarrassing the President publicly ‘when you have private channels of advising him”.

Still speaking about truth, the lawmaker noted that truth must be told to power, arguing that it is only those who do these that get a place in the annals of history.

“History has no record of those who whisper the truth to power,but only of those who told the truth to power,” Sani said.

Meanwhile, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has asked the Federal Government to tread with caution in the drive for improved revenue.

The Director-General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said this in a statement on Wednesday while reacting to the plan by the government to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT).

Officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance had defended the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) that VAT be increased by 50 per cent during a presentation in the Senate.

Ajayi-Kadir, however, said such policy was not ‘manufacturing friendly’, adding that implementing it would have a negative effect as a result of the planned increase in minimum wage.

“As plausible as the recommendation to increase VAT may look, implementing it at this time would boomerang because the timing is inappropriate, especially at a time when the minimum wage of N30,000 was just agreed upon,” he stated.

The MAN DG added, “This could send a wrong signal that the government is not sensitive to the plight of the low- and middle-income earners, who are clearly in the majority. The Nigerian economy will be in a more vulnerable state if VAT is increased.

“No controversy, the burden of the tax would be shifted to the Nigerian consumers that are already struggling, the economy would certainly experience demand crunch, inventory of unsold items would soar, pthe rofitability of manufacturing concerns would be negatively impacted, many factories will witness serious downturn or wind down operations.”

Ajayi-Kadiri, therefore, advised the government to widen the tax net rather than increase the rate in order to meet the growing need for more revenue to address the development objective of the country.

He also appealed to the government not to increase the VAT at this time but consider the implementation of the afore-mentioned tax specific recommendations.

Fairness Is Key To Ending The Killings In Nigeria – Shehu Sani

 

Senator Shehu Sani has said that only fairness to people of all faiths and tribes can bring an end to the mindless killings in Nigeria. 

Shehu Sani made this assertion via twitter, in Reacting to a statement by Professor Yemi Osinbajo in which the Vice President stated that President Buhari has no theocratic agenda.

Sani said, “It’s reassuring to hear from the VP that the President has no theocratic agenda.But what is of urgent importance now is for the FG & respective states to end the mindless killings in the name of religion or ethnicity.And the first step is fairness to people of all faiths.”

READ ALSO: Two Killed, 38 Houses Razed In Nasarawa Ethnic Clash

He is also weighed in on issues bordering on Nigerian polity and the electoral process, arguing that calling for unity after stealing other peoples’ mandate is a unfair.

“To perpetrate injustice,to undermine the basic principles of democracy and subvert free elections and call for unity,sportsmanship and statesmanship is to spray fragrances on heap of feaces.”

He went on to warn that ” for those whose trophy or plaque is caved out of the coffin of their victims, they will perpetually live in fear of their ghost”.

‘Not To Condemn The Violence In Kano Is To Condone Or Concur’ – Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani Decries Bandits' Activities In Kaduna, Three Other States
Senator Shehu Sani (file)

 

Senator Shehu Sani has said that the silence of the authorities on the issue of violence which marred the supplementary polls in Kano, is an indication that those in power condone and concur to the menace. 

In a statement made via Twitter, the lawmaker said, “Not to condemn the Violence in Kano is to Condone or to Concur”.

In a similar vein, Shehu Sani has decried the use of thugs by politicians during elections, to protect and preserve their power.

READ ALSO: Supplementary Elections: We Would Have Expected Better Management Of The Polls – Atiku

Sani who was defeated at the NASS elections which held on February 23, said thugs have become institutional agents of the ruling parties and governing structures.

In a series of Tweets made between 23-24th March, Sani lamented over the violence encountered in several areas where the supplementary polls have held.

He noted that these thugs are funded clandestinely by governors from the public treasury, adding that the thugs are endorsed and positioned to cause mayhem in a bid to protect the interest of these governors.

“Armed thugs have become institutional agents of ruling parties & Governing structures; They are crude components of power, funded clandestinely by Governors from the public treasury. They are endorsed & positioned to protect & preserve power by murder, mayhem & atrocious violence.”

Sani further argued that the mild and modest references of local and international observers with regards to the use of thugs in previous elections made it possible for the practice to repeat itself.

Elections Rerun: Thugs Have Become Institutional Agents Of Ruling Parties – Shehu Sani

Kaduna APC Suspends Senator Shehu Sani Indefinitely
File Photo: Shehu Sani

 

The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani, has decried the use of thugs by politicians during elections, to protect and preserve their power.

Shehu Sani who was defeated at the NASS elections which held on February 23, said thugs have become institutional agents of the ruling parties and governing structures.

In a series of Tweets made between 23-24th March, Sani lamented over the violence encountered in several areas where the supplementary polls have held.

He noted that these thugs are funded clandestinely by governors from the public treasury, adding that the thugs are endorsed and positioned to cause mayhem in a bid to protect the interest of these governors.

“Armed thugs have become institutional agents of ruling parties & Governing structures; They are crude components of power, funded clandestinely by Governors from the public treasury. They are endorsed & positioned to protect & preserve power by murder, mayhem & atrocious violence.”

READ ALSO: Disregard Places Where Violence Occurred In Kano And Declare A Winner – Situation Room Tells INEC

Sani further argued that the mild and modest references of local and international observers with regards to the use of thugs in previous elections made it possible for the practice to repeat itself.

He said, “Local and International Observers ‘mild and modest’ reference and reactions to the use of Thugs by those in power in the previous elections, made it possible for the practice to repeat itself and this time more audacious”.

Still speaking about the elections, Sani lamented over the manner in which politicians do outrageous things just to win polls.

“They buy those they can buy, maul those they can maul, bury those they can bury, on their way to lift their trophy tainted with the blood of their victims,” Sani said.

He added that “Every time the Government turns a blind eye to those leaders holding positions of power or influence, whom by their actions or words promote or incite bloodletting, to protect or preserve their spaces in the stage of power, it has given its consent to violence against its people.

“The People are beginning to learn the mystery and tragedy of their Kingdom; Whenever the King travels, Knives grows in their gardens and whenever he’s back, it’s Roses”.

Shehu Sani also spoke about the role of social media in bringing the mayhems wrought by political thugs and their paymasters to the fore and the attacks on social media by those who do not mean the country well.

He said, “When they were ‘going to power’, Social Media was their Horse; When they arrived at power, Social Media became their Frankenstein monster.”

Sani surmised that “When you divide a people to get to the throne, you will sit on a two-legged royal throne” adding that “A truth buried is unearthed by the shovel of Justice or by the digger of time”.