Human rights activist and former senator Shehu Sani has strongly criticized opposition figures who are attacking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing them of being driven by frustration, exclusion, and ambition rather than genuine concern for the Nigerian people.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, the former Kaduna Central lawmaker stated that many of those criticizing the President are disgruntled members of the same elite ruling class.
“Opposition Attacks Driven by Power Loss, Not Patriotism” — Shehu Sani
“When you have a group of disgruntled elements who are frustrated and come together, it’s not about the country or the people — it is simply about being excluded from the system,” Sani said.
He emphasized that these opposition figures are not suddenly Marxists or pro-people revolutionaries but are part of the “bourgeois political class” that has held sway since 1999.
“They use every opportunity to weaponise our challenges and present themselves as a better alternative, but many of them have been in power since 1999.”
Opposition Must Fix Internal Crises, Not Blame Tinubu
Sani further addressed the ongoing infighting within opposition parties like the PDP, NNPP, SDP, and Labour Party (LP). He labeled it “irresponsible” for these parties to blame President Tinubu for their internal woes.
“If there’s a problem in the PDP, NNPP, SDP or any party, and you have members working against the party but refuse to expel or suspend them, then turning to blame the president is irresponsible.”
He said it is naïve to expect the President of the ruling APC to fix the machinery of parties that are preparing to challenge him in 2027.
“As president of the ruling party, he cannot be expected to fix the very machine that would be turned against him politically. It is a political strategy — just like in football — you want your opponent distracted with internal problems.”
On June 12 and Democracy Day
While discussing Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Shehu Sani praised Tinubu’s role in the June 12 struggle, calling his contributions “unequalled and unparalleled.”
“This award is not about us but about June 12. It is an encouragement for Nigerians to make sacrifices,” he said.
He also urged the current administration to respect the right to protest, referencing Tinubu’s pro-democracy activism during the Abacha regime.
“Someone who supported, funded, and participated in protests should have a government that is tolerant of protestation.”
Rebukes Comparisons to Military Rule
Sani rejected comparisons between Tinubu’s government and military dictatorship, calling such narratives “economical with the truth.”
“Democracy is not yet 100 per cent, but we are very far from where we came from.”
On Political Crisis in Rivers State
Addressing the political turmoil in Rivers State, Shehu Sani dismissed the recent state of emergency declared by Tinubu as a temporary step to encourage dialogue, not an authoritarian move.
“The idea of a state of emergency is just an attempt to find a solution and create space for them to dialogue.”
