The Digest:
Former federal lawmaker Shehu Sani has accused ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai of jailing four critics during his eight-year tenure, following el-Rufai's recent description of President Tinubu as a "tyrant" over an airport arrest attempt. In an X post, Sani identified the alleged victims as Dr John Danfulani, Mal Nasiru Jagaba, Steven Kefas, and Segun Onibiyo, stating they were "arrested and sent to jail for criticizing the Governor of Kaduna State and Kaduna State Government on their social media handles from 2015-2023." Sani claimed Onibiyo "served for months in Kaduna Prison." He added: "Tell me the meaning of a tyrant. I will post more." The accusations come amid escalating political tensions following the failed attempt to arrest el-Rufai at Abuja Airport.
Key Points:
- The accusations challenge el-Rufai's anti-tyranny stance by highlighting his own record on dissent.
- It fuels debate on consistency and hypocrisy among politicians criticising government overreach.
- Alleged victims' families seek acknowledgment, while el-Rufai's legacy faces renewed scrutiny.
- This signals the weaponisation of past records in current political warfare ahead of 2027.
- The timing, immediately after el-Rufai's "tyrant" comment, maximises political impact.
Sani's revelations aim to puncture el-Rufai's anti-establishment credentials, forcing a reckoning with his own governance record.
Sources: Daily Post Nigeria, Shehu Sani/X
