Byline: IDNN Politics & Security Desk
Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani has fired fresh shots at former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of fostering a culture of thuggery and violence that destabilised the state.
Sani, a fierce critic of El-Rufai, said the ex-governor created and sustained networks of political gangs who intimidated opponents, suppressed dissent, and deepened insecurity.
“El-Rufai turned Kaduna into a laboratory of thuggery. He funded and empowered violent gangs who undermined democracy and terrorised citizens. That is his legacy,” Sani charged.
The former lawmaker alleged that El-Rufai’s style of governance was built on fear, coercion, and manipulation, which fractured communities and weakened trust in the state government.
Sani’s accusations add to mounting criticism from political figures and security experts who argue that El-Rufai’s approach to insecurity worsened banditry and inter-communal violence in Kaduna.
Governor Uba Sani’s administration has also repeatedly accused the former governor of incitement and manipulation following his allies’ defeat in the August by-elections.
Political observers say the barrage of accusations — from Ben Kure, Shehu Sani, and the current government — point to a concerted effort to dismantle El-Rufai’s influence as Kaduna repositions under new leadership.
“Kaduna is still paying the price for El-Rufai’s politics of fear. We must confront this legacy if the state is to heal,” Shehu Sani insisted.
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