The absurdity of the lies recycled against Uba Sani

Before the military handover of power to the civilian administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999, there were not many non-progressive people who gave members of the pro-democracy and human rights community a chance to secure power. It was taken for granted that military apologists would take over as leaders at all levels at the end of the transition led by General Abdulsalam Abubakar.

A few days ago, an irritant in cahoots with some political charlatans recycled a story published way back in 2006 by elements allergic to the truth, progress and development of peoples. The story, titled: “He betrayed Gani Fawehinmi, he betrayed Abubakar Rimi, he betrayed the fight for democracy, who is El-Rufai? Read the faceless Omotayo Kehinde’s “published material”, which is essentially meant to distract Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State from the good work he is doing.

We feel obligated to react to fake news sponsored by certain irritating cowards to not allow them to publicize their stupidity to the level where gullible people can begin to deodorize their stupidity.

As a formidable group championing the cause of good governance, democratic values, justice and, above all, the unity of Nigeria, we want to state that the sponsors of the false publication should prepare for a long battle with us in the days to come if they do not desist from publishing lies, falsehoods and ungodly speculations against one of the time-tested pro-democratic personalities of Kaduna State.

Aware of the war plots of his dismembered opponents, we are ready to expose the evil deeds of the peddlers of falsehood against the people behind the distraction campaign against Uba Sani.

We dare say that the sponsors of the faceless publication have benefited from the insecurity that has pervaded Kaduna State over the years. They are very saddened by the successes recorded by the Uba Sani administration in dealing with the hydra-headed monsters: treasury looting, kidnapping, banditry and insecurity witnessed in the state.

These good-for-nothing political liars are hiding in their imagination and publishing fake news thinking to reduce Uba’s incredible popularity, acceptability and electoral value on the horizon.

We are happy that his democratic precedents, governance style, character, attitude, charismatic leadership have dismantled the empire of lies, selective justice, deception, persecution of opposition, recklessness, vandetta, knavery of leaders, disobedience of court orders and lack of fear of God in state administration witnessed in the state of few years ago.

The false publication against him is a complete misrepresentation of things that happened during the military junta where Chief Olisa Agbakoba, Chief Mike Ozekhome, Anyakee Nsirimovu, Uba Sani, Shehu Sani, Denja Yaqub, Naseer Kura, Festus Okoye, Udenta Udenta, Nike Ransome Kuti, Gbenga Soloki, Nankin Bagudu, Chom Bagu, Amitolu Shittu, Dotun Atilade, Abdul Oroh, Mashood Erubami, Igbuku Otu (Snr) and many others faced harassment, intimidation and were victims of the bad governance of that era.

Gone forever are the days when baseless claims against innocent citizens were swallowed hook and sinker to give a semblance of truth only to reach preconceived political notions.

It is incontrovertible that during the military dictatorship, our tireless comrade Sani was taken into custody several times by junta agents and suffered inhuman and degrading treatment in their gulags. The last of these terrible incidents occurred on June 6, 1998 in Kaduna, when security agents raided his residence at night and forcibly took him away to an unknown destination.

In a statement on the arrest of Uba Sani signed by the secretary of the Northern Youth Congress for Democracy, Comrade Umar Farouk, published in the Guardian and other newspapers dated Saturday 6 June 1998, he criticized the wave of arrests across the country, urging the government to release the detainee unconditionally and leave the scene for democracy. Uba Sani’s arrest may not be unrelated to the mass actions organized under his leadership in some Northern states and his consistent opposition to the Abacha government and its anti-people policies.

He said: “Sani was forcibly abducted by security agents from his Kaduna residence, his clothes were torn to pieces and he was stripped naked.”

Farouk continued: “The CNYD wishes to state categorically that, despite the repression of its leadership in some Northern states, we will continue our opposition to the Abacha government’s attempted self-succession.”

He described the crackdown and abduction of pro-democracy leaders across the country such as Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Comrade Ola Oni, Dr Udenta Udenta, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, among others, as the handiwork of the military junta which is increasingly fearful of the push of pro-democracy activists across the country.

It is an established fact that Uba’s indelible role in the fight for respect for human rights and democracy against military dictatorship is a story known to progressive families across our land. He supported the freedom of Sultan Dasuki, the campaign of General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the freedom of Colonel Lawan Gwadabe and other political prisoners during the Abacha days. People like Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, a Prince of Gwandu, decorated military officer and a high princely personality can testify that Uba never compromised with the dictatorship of the said era.

Indeed, Uba has created a safe paradise enclave where several activists blacklisted by the military junta take refuge as a hideout away from brutalization and prolonged detention without legal representation or proper trial in a competent court.

Specifically, even in the post-military dictatorship era, he spearheaded the granting of scholarships to students in Northern Nigeria, organized by the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, of blessed memory. Likewise, the late Senator Idris Abubakar Gombe of blessed memory was very active in support of the noble initiative.

Once again, in 2006, he established a Foundation, pioneering skills acquisition and vocational training programs for youth across Kaduna State and beyond, drawing admiration from all.

Since he went from being a human rights and pro-democracy activist to entering partisan politics, it has been hard and fast. Of course, from the inflexible position of those he defeated in the 2023 elections, also judged by election observers as free, fair, peaceful, credible and above all courts with competent jurisdiction, it is easy to deduce that his enemies lost the elections with a heavy heart and with total submission to the will of the people.

It is a tragedy that the wicked, whom citizens recognize as exhausted political forces, now hold nightly meetings fabricating falsehoods and imaginary lies concocted by lazy people against him. The story fabricated by the opposition is essentially driven by dishonest intentions aimed at misinforming the gullible public.

Shouldn’t his accusers have learned enough by now from the costly dissemination of fake news that has no effect, is a waste of time, is absurd and can bring them discredit, including defamatory legal consequences?

We are confident that all the booby traps strewn across his path to re-election will be destroyed and dismantled if the people accept his administration as sincere and committed to their interest. Uba is very serious in dismantling evil and advancing the progress and development of Kaduna State, not in complacency towards evildoers.

Sooner or later we will put the identity of the sponsors on speakerphone so that people understand who the real enemies are who do not want their progress.

The forthcoming elections are expected to provide the platform to consolidate the progress made in Kaduna State over the past three years under the current administration. He will certainly emerge victorious and will be able to bring the State to where it should be and not where some charlatans want it to be.

Governor Uba Sani’s previous and current disposition for popular participation has encouraged us to show his support, believing that men of conscience and goodwill would listen to us and reject their lies that were rudely hurled at them.

…Shibkau is the pioneer National Publicity Secretary of the Northern Coalition for the Protection of Democracy