On Senator Shehu Sani

*Dr Nura Alkali writes:*

Senator Shehu Sani's experience is a lesson on how not to play politics. Those eyeing political office may please note that:

1. Governance is always a team work.
Sani contravened this rule to fight his State Governor on every front. So much that he denied his own state a $350 million (N126 billion) World Bank loan needed to rehabilitate dilapidated schools and fund other public projects.

2. With leadership comes responsibility. Shehu
Sani's status as a Senator made him a leader, yet he chose to promote anarchy by identifying with the likes of Sheikh Zakzaky and John Dan Fulani whose activities threatened security and peaceful co-existence.

3. Society mistrusts conceited politicians
Shehu Sani was conceited in his so-called activism. While he blamed the FGN for farmer-herder conflicts in Benue State, it was Gov. El-Rufai he blamed for communal conflicts in Kaduna State - which he called "genocide", apparently to curry favour with certain groups.

4. Politics demands loyalty to party.
Shehu Sani fought not only his Governor but also the Federal Executive. He defended Sen Saraki at his corruption trial and rebelled against APC on every policy in a gang-up with PDP Senators. He even opposed PMB standing for re-election.
5. Politics is not student unionism.
Shehu Sani was always on social media writing his parables when he should be on the ground building a political base in his constituency. Unlike Student Union Governments, politicians always seek reelection. Shehu Sani ignored that fact and lost the APC primaries.