Celebrating Uba Sani at 53

BY EMMANUEL ADO

Those who find it difficult to believe that Senator Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna state, is only 53 years old, shouldn’t be blamed for believing otherwise. Their scepticism or disbelief is quite understandable, considering the many solid achievements of Sani in his 53 years of sojourn on earth. For instance, long before Sani was appointed as the special assistant (public affairs) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as a young man of about 20, Sani had already decided on a life dedicated to fighting for the poor (humanity), the entrenchment of democracy and public service, when most of his mates were unsure of what they wanted to do with their life.

At that young age, not only was military rule objectionable to Sani but rather than sit back to complain, he took active steps to help send the military back to the barracks where they rightly belong. That was done despite the obvious personal risks. To make matters worse, the rebellious young Sani committed political sacrilege by teaming up with the mostly Southerners-led pro-democracy campaign movement, which in the eyes of some Northerners, was a subtle attempt at snatching power from the north by the south. In the north, the pro-democracy movement, the campaign for the enthronement of democracy and the return of the politicised military to their constitutional roles were viewed with deep suspicion due to the erroneous belief that the Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha administrations advanced “northern interests”.

Every step that Governor Sani took was like jumping from frying pan to fire. If Sani wasn’t suicidal, how could he have aligned with the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a mortal enemy of the junta of all people? Wasn’t Sani voluntarily signing his death certificate? The danger that Sani faced is better appreciated against the background that the likes of the famed General Alani Akinrinade, Anthony Enahoro and Bola Ahmed Tinubu (as he then was) were eventually forced into exile through the famous NADECO route by the Abacha regime, which in Nigeria’s history, remains the most vicious regime. That Uba Sani stayed back to wage the war speaks volumes about his courage and convictions.

In a sense, Sani’s involvement in the pro-democracy movement was what the one and only irrepressible Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì would have diabolically described as suicide; akin to someone standing in front of a moving train.

Governor Sani, for a long time, was a lone voice in the north campaigning for the restoration of late Chief M. K. O Abiola’s June 12 mandate, which Babangida had annulled, until Col. Abubakar Umar resigned his commission over the annulment of the June 12 elections. He was the national vice chairman (north) Campaign for Democracy (CD), deputy national chairman (north) of the Gani Fawehinmi SAN Joint Action Committee(JACON) and a member of the National Conscience Party(NCP).

Sani’s experience in the trenches and his peaceful disposition are the reasons Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, who in 2011 defeated him for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senate ticket, is today his political ally and confidant. His incredible value of service to humanity and skills at navigating delicate landmines are serving him well today as the governor of Kaduna State.

Back to the other reasons why many people might have erroneously concluded that Sani is much older than his 53 years. In 2007, when Umaru Musa Yar’adua became president, Sani could have been anything he wanted in the administration of a man whom he had an extremely close relationship with from his pro-democracy days due to his unflinching support for the release of General Shehu Yar’adua who had been jailed by the Abacha administration over a phantom coup allegation. Though extremely close to late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, he bluntly rejected the offer from Yar’adua because the president had declared war against Nasir El-Rufai, his friend and mentor.

By 2015, Uba Sani was to bounce back to public office with his appointment as special adviser (political) to El-Rufai, a position from which he contested and won the election to the senate to represent Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the national assembly. To the surprise of those who underrated him, he was not only named the chairman of the powerful Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions but despite being a first termer, he was to also over deliver in his assignment.

As a senator, Sani authored three consequential bills that President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law, a record by any first termer. The key legislation was to strengthen the banking and insurance industry, considering the strategic importance of a stable financial sector, particularly the banking sector. The passage of the Bill for an Act to Repeal the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act and to Re-enact the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act and Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2020, into law, a landmark legislation, was his contribution to putting the banking industry on a more solid footing.

The activist in Sani continued to play out even while he was in the senate. After all, a lion can not suddenly become a lapdog. This explained Sani’s anger at the antics of some chronic bank debtors, who often used legal gymnastics to stall repayment of their loans, which to Sani, amounted to “orchestrated acts of economic sabotage”. His savage reaction was the inclusion of a Loan/credit tribunal to assist the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), in the recovery of loans. The non-payment of loans had hampered lending by banks and so by repositioning AMCON, Sani contributed greatly to resolving a critical bottleneck that affected business because the amended law guaranteed repayment to the lenders.

His compelling and superlative legislative accomplishments erased, not only the erroneous impression by a section of the media, that Sani would be stepping into the supposedly oversized shoes of Senator Shehu Sani, whom he took over from, but positioned him as a strong contender for the governorship position in 2023.

From the results of the presidential election, which the PDP roundly won in Kaduna state, due to the negative campaign by Atiku Abubakar against power shift, some analysts had written off Sani, without factoring the fact that elections are local and his antecedents: the genuine love for him by the people due to his care about the same issues they care about, his huge investment in the people through his Uba Sani Foundation; the sponsorship of medical surgeries, educational scholarships, his bills for the establishment of state police, job creation, his human rights antecedents, and his contribution towards the exit of the military. He not only easily picked the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but went on to defeat Isa Ashiru Kudan, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to emerge the governor of Kaduna state in the 2023 general elections.

To date, Sani, whether as an activist, senator or governor, has shown not just amazing dedication to service but the self-sacrifice that is needed to make the society better. Thankfully, the interest of the people remains the focus of his politics. No wonder his very first budget is aptly titled ‘The Budget of Rural Transformation for Inclusive Development’. His prioritisation of rural development is a demonstration of his love for the poor.

Senator Uba Sani, without the usual noise of most activists, has certainly paid his dues in the struggle to enthrone democracy and as a senator, in his quiet style, left his footprint on the sands of time. As governor, he certainly would leave his permanent mark in public service.

Senator Uba Sani is conscientious, a man of principles and deep convictions. His mentor, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), will be very proud of his achievements, especially the fact that he is still committed to the entrenchment of an egalitarian society.

Jim Rohn’s statement that “whoever renders service to many, puts himself in line for greatness- great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation and great joy”, is very true about Uba Sani in every respect.