Shehu Sani raises the alarm, says his life is under threat

Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, says his life is currently under threat.

In a statement issued on his behalf by Suleiman Ahmed, his special adviser, political and ideology, the lawmaker said he decided to speak up to avoid sharing a similar fate with members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who had a clash with the military in December.

Sani accused Nasiru el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, of being intolerant of criticisms, saying the governor should be held responsible in the event of an unfortunate event.

“Our attention has been drawn to a hate speech and threat to life made by Governor Nasiru El-Rufai against distinguished Senator Shehu Sani in the governor’s circus christened as town hall meeting in Giwa local government on 4th June 2016,” Ahmed said in a statement.

“The governor reliably and evidently referred to Senator Sani, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Isa Ashiru Kudan as ‘ants he will match and crush’. We could have easily dismissed or ignore this statement as tantrums of an accidental governor high on weekend Marijuana, but we decided not to take things for granted in view of the vicious history and his allergy to criticism.

“Also fresh in our mind is the mass killings and burial of members of the Islamic movement in Zaria last December.

“We view his unguarded and provocative utterances as nothing but a hate speech and a direct threat to the life of Senator Sani and others whom the governor perceived as his ‘enemies’. We hold Governor Nasiru El-Rufai personally responsible for any harm done on Senator Sani.

“This statement is to publicly alert security agencies and the general public that in the event of any injury or assassination of Senator Shehu Sani, no one should be held responsible but Governor Nasiru El-Rufai.”

“El-Rufai is not appeased with his ‘suspension’ of Sen Sani from his pocketed state APC he has now resorted to threats of ‘Crushing and matching’. El-Rufai is an affliction to the people of Kaduna; he is at war with clerics, teachers, workers, traditional rulers, physically challenged, journalists, doctors, politicians and the poor.We advise El-Rufai to use the waters of River Kaduna to build Kaduna of his dream and if he must use blood he should use the blood of the abundant crocodiles in Kaduna River and not that of distinguished senator Shehu Sani.”