Senator Shehu Sani has taken a sharp swipe at what he describes as the selective outrage of opposition politicians, accusing them of turning a blind eye to lopsided political appointments when it suits their ethnic interests — only to cry foul when the tables turn.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s political programme, the former Kaduna lawmaker decried what he called “ethnic double standards” in Nigeria’s political discourse.
“I would appreciate the morality of the opposition,” Sani said, “if I can hear your voice when your own man from your tribe, from your ethnic group, was perpetrating those evils and you stood against it. But when you keep quiet when it favoured you and now speak out when it doesn’t, it means you have other intentions.”
The remarks come amid renewed debate over federal appointments and the ethnic balancing — or lack thereof — in key political positions.
Sani’s criticism appears aimed at opposition leaders who, he suggests, are driven more by sectional loyalty than by genuine concern for equity or justice.
In the same interview, Sani confirmed his return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), after a stint in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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According to him, the conditions that led to his earlier departure — chiefly the influence of former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai — no longer exist.
Sani didn’t mince words in describing El-Rufai’s tenure: “Toxic,” he said, blaming the former governor for a stifling political atmosphere that pushed many party faithful away from the APC in Kaduna State.
With El-Rufai now out of the power equation, Sani believes the APC in Kaduna has a chance to reset.
Sani’s return to the APC could signal a broader realignment in Kaduna politics, especially with the party trying to rebuild its ranks after a turbulent eight-year stretch.
However, his scathing indictment of ethnic-driven politics also adds fuel to ongoing debates about national unity, fairness in representation, and the deep fault lines that continue to shape Nigeria’s democratic evolution.