“Wike Owes His Political Career to Our Democratic Struggle” – Shehu Sani

In a recent statement, former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani asserted that the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, owes his political career to the efforts of democracy advocates like himself, Mike Ozekhome, and other activists during Nigeria’s military rule.

Sani emphasized that Wike’s rise to positions such as local government chairman, state governor, and minister was made possible by the democratic struggle led by these freedom fighters. This response came after Wike questioned the impact of Sani’s tenure as a senator on Nigeria’s progress.

Speaking at the Nigeria Annual Lecture and Gold Prize Award, 2024, an event commemorating 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria, Sani urged President Bola Tinubu to address the country’s ongoing issues and alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. Wike had previously challenged Sani to highlight his significant achievements during his time in the National Assembly.

In a televised interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Sani defended his contributions and questioned Wike’s whereabouts during his imprisonment in Port Harcourt under the military regime. “Nobody can demean the struggle that we did to free Nigeria from military dictatorship,” Sani stated. “If not for the struggle which we did to de-establish military dictatorship and establish democracy in Nigeria, people like Wike wouldn’t have become local government chairman, governor, or minister today.”

Sani further described Wike as a beneficiary of the efforts and sacrifices made by those who fought for Nigeria’s democratic freedom, highlighting the dedication and commitment of many Nigerians to this cause.