Personality: A Candle light in Nigeria's red Chamber

Senator Shehu Sani at plenary 

By EDDY OCHIGBO

Nigeria is a nation being micromanaged consistently by people who believe governance and leadership is their exclusive right. It is quite mind blowing to be privy to Nigeria's hard won democracy; hard won because the military had clung to power and didn't want to let go. 

A good number of players survived the clampdown, some lost their lives, loved ones and in some cases everything. In a nation whose only history lessons is rarely improved and the knowledge of its state as a federal republic shrouded; many may have to declare by themselves the role they played to remain relevant and stamp their names on sand of time. I am eternally grateful to the participation of young people towards the growth of the Nigerian nation.

At the wake of the return to democracy the very best did not make it in, it was rather people who were part of the khakicracy that had access to the most ‘opportunities’ to preside over affairs of state and governance. Those who had lost sleep to see the nation return to democracy were soon forgotten once again the ‘baban riga’, ‘agbada’ clad personalities returned again to do what they had always enjoyed in what seems to be 'military-governance' shrouded in the mystery of forgetting both the urban and rural poor.

When Comrade Shehu Sani first stepped in to contest for the Senate he had nothing to give besides his history, track record for anyone to carry out some quality assurance evaluation. He may even have never stated what the people stand to benefit from his representation, which couldn’t deter the electorate. The second attempt came through like consensus. Yes, Senator Shehu Sani became the representative in the red chamber for the Kaduna Central District and has lived up to the expectation of the people.

‘“I chose to publicly declare and be pelted than to walk with the stain of suspicion and mistrust splashed on all public officeholders by a generation of curious citizenry"', declared Senator San, insisting that citizens must be stopped from giving up on Nigeria. Here is one who still believes that the citizenry is all that matters. Senator Sani has reawakened citizens’ participation with the assurances that there is a watchdog from within promoting inclusivism. On constituency projects Sani noted that, “Now, the corruption comes when the projects are not done and the money is taken. But right now, it is difficult to do that because NGOs and transparency groups have come into it. They track every allocation made to you and where they are being used.”

Sani enthused: “when the people come to you, they want you to build roads, dig boreholes, build hospitals, schools, give money, pay school fees for them. Now, if we have a society in which people will stop asking legislators to do those things, then there is no need (for the allowances) But funny enough, if you are very active in the National Assembly in making laws and you don’t embark on projects in your constituency, you cannot in any way be appreciated by the people you are there to serve because members of the electorate in United States are different from the electorate even in some parts of Africa". He called on citizens to own their mandate as the manifestos unfold. Worse than the fight back of corruption is the growing unease with which the likes of Shehu Sani could cause to the exclusivists.

Supporters of Senator Sani told our correspondent that they refused to pick the pieces of innuendo by Damilola Oyedele who had questioned why the Senator had not refused the 13.5 monthly p ‘packages’ all along. e refuse to yield to the imaginations that Damilola asserts. We will rather be straining our eyes through the budget to ensure more transparency and accountability. Certainly if citizens were to check on the punctuality and diligence to duty, Sani is definitely one of the leading Senators in the Senate. He has carved a niche in public service as was the case in private service. He has consistently amplified the voices of the silent majority. People like him ignite again and again the hope for a better Nigeria", declared one Sani's admirers.

Comrade Adams Oshiomole, they said  had moved on from being a national unionist to a governor of a state; he has not even been an inspiration as the Senator had beeb gto the citizenry.

The questions in Kaduna's public circles include: Is Sani just pushing to appeal to the sentiments of the voting masses of Kaduna in his re-election bid being countered already by his state governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai?" 
"I am rather of the opinion that the Senators words are apt - There are no saints and angels in politics, but the citizenry deserve to know the moral truth behind the facade of uprightness.

Keen watchers contend that Sani may be the major topic of discourse in Lagos, Abuja, and elsewhere, but that is because our problem as citizens is common.   
As to if Senator Shehu Sani desires to run for governor, yes, it will cause a stir that could make a tyrant insecure. Kaduna Central’s got a ‘homeboy’ in the Senate and the gratitude from all patriots and advocates for democracy to this true ‘agent of change’ is a remark of praise to the people of Kaduna Central who have placed this candle to glow in the hallowed red chamber of the Nigerian Senate.