By Adama Shehu
The recent baseless and politically motivated attacks launched by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against his successor, Governor Uba Sani, are nothing short of desperation, envy and an attempt to undermine the remarkable progress Kaduna has made since 2023. El-Rufai’s allegations that Governor Sani is merely a sycophant pandering to President Bola Tinubu for financial gain are not only frivolous but also reflect his unwillingness to acknowledge the achievements of his successor.
If El-Rufai wishes to be taken seriously, he must provide evidence to support his claims. Otherwise, his remarks should be dismissed as the ranting of a man struggling to remain relevant in Kaduna and the nation’s political landscape.
El-Rufai has alleged, without a shred of proof, that Governor Uba Sani’s loyalty to President Tinubu is tied to over N150 billion in federal reimbursements that Kaduna State has received in the past 18 months. However, where is the evidence to support such a frivolous claim?
As a former governor, El-Rufai should know that federal interventions, grants, and reimbursements are standard financial measures extended to states based on needs, project completion and agreements made under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. Kaduna, like other states, has rightfully benefited from federal support, and there is nothing unusual about it.
El-Rufai’s attempt to misconstrue these interventions as favoritism is nothing but a mischievous tactic to discredit Governor Uba Sani’s governance while deflecting attention from his own mismanagement of Kaduna’s finances of which he has been indicted by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
It is no secret that Governor Uba Sani’s achievements within less than two years have far surpassed El-Rufai’s controversial eight-year tenure. Unlike his predecessor, who was widely criticized for implementing anti-people policies, excessive debt accumulation, and high-handed governance, Governor Uba Sani has taken a progressive, inclusive, and pragmatic approach to leadership.
In the agricultural sector, Governor Uba Sani has revolutionized agriculture in Kaduna, empowering farmers through modern mechanization, irrigation projects, and access to credit. Under his leadership, thousands of farmers have been supported with improved seedlings, fertilizers, and training. Large-scale irrigation systems have been introduced, reducing the state’s dependency on rain-fed agriculture and Kaduna is rapidly becoming a leading agro-processing hub in Nigeria, boosting food production and job creation.
In contrast, the controversial El-Rufai’s administration paid little attention to agriculture and focused on urbanization projects that often displaced poor communities without adequate compensation. He created more problems than comfort for the people he swore to defend.
The ruinous legacy of El-rufai in the education sector is being corrected by his successor. El-Rufai left a trail of destruction in Kaduna’s education sector, sacking thousands of teachers under the guise of reforms while failing to provide alternative measures to improve educational standards. Schools were poorly funded, and infrastructure deteriorated under his watch.
Governor Uba Sani has since corrected this damage by recruiting qualified teachers and improving teacher training programs, other measures include renovation of dilapidated schools and constructing new ones to accommodate students, and expansion of scholarship programs to help underprivileged students, ensuring inclusive education for all.
Under Governor Uba Sani’s watch, the challenged security situation in Kaduna is being tackled using a practical people-oriented approach. Kaduna State was one of the most terrorized states under El-Rufai’s administration, with rampant banditry, kidnappings, and ethno-religious violence. His insensitive and confrontational approach to security escalated tensions and made many communities unsafe.
Governor Uba Sani, on the other hand, has adopted a more strategic and holistic security framework by strengthening community policing and intelligence gathering, and partnering with security agencies to deploy technology-driven surveillance in high-risk areas, while also engaging traditional and religious leaders to foster peace and security cooperation among communities.
These efforts have significantly reduced criminal activities in Kaduna, a feat El-Rufai failed to achieve despite his constant media grandstanding.
Unilie Uba Sani, the El-Rufai tenure was marked by deep-seated religious and ethnic divisions, as he often implemented policies that alienated certain groups. His rhetoric and handling of crises only worsened inter-communal conflicts in the state.
In contrast, Governor Uba Sani has worked tirelessly to unite Kaduna’s diverse communities by fostering interfaith dialogue and promoting religious tolerance. Encouraging inclusiveness in government appointments and development projects and setting up of peace-building committees to resolve longstanding communal conflicts.
For these laudable initiatives, Kaduna is experiencing unprecedented levels of peace and unity, further proving that leadership should be about bridge-building, not division.
Rather than engaging in cheap political blackmail, El-Rufai should explain how he left Kaduna State in huge debt despite receiving billions in federal allocations and loans, and also clarify why insecurity worsened under his administration, leaving many communities in distress.It will also be of public interest why he destroyed Kaduna’s civil service, leading to mass job losses.
Governor Uba Sani is a leader committed to the growth and prosperity of Kaduna State. His achievements in agriculture, education, security, and ethno-religious harmony are undeniable, and no amount of political bitterness from El-Rufai can erase his successes.
Kaduna people are witnessing a new era of inclusive and people-centered governance, and they will not be swayed by baseless propaganda.
Instead of wasting energy attacking his successor, El-Rufai should take a cue from Governor Uba Sani’s humility, effectiveness, and people-first governance approach. After all, history will remember those who built legacies, not those who sought to destroy them out of envy. Kaduna is moving forward, and Governor Uba Sani deserves applause, not attacks!
• Shehu writes from Zaria, Kaduna State