Opposition Motivated By Frustration, Not Public Interest – Shehu Sani
Former lawmaker and rights activist, Senator Shehu Sani, has accused Nigeria’s opposition leaders of being driven by personal frustrations rather than a genuine concern for the public.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Sani said most of the attacks on President Bola Tinubu were coming from disgruntled political figures who feel sidelined.
“When you have a group of disgruntled elements who are frustrated and come together, it’s not about the country or the people — it is simply about being excluded from the system,” he said.
He described them as members of the same political elite they now pretend to oppose, saying, “It’s not that they are now Marxists or trade unionists confronting a capitalist order — they’re all from the same bourgeois political class.”
Sani criticised opposition attempts to form a coalition against Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections and argued that many of them had been in power since 1999.
He faulted the opposition for blaming Tinubu over the internal crises within their parties.
“It’s unfortunate that the opposition is looking to the president to solve their problems. If there’s a problem in the PDP, NNPP, SDP or any party, and you have members working against the party but refuse to expel or suspend them, then turning to blame the president is irresponsible,” he said.
According to him, Tinubu, as leader of the ruling party, cannot be expected to fix political machines that may be used against him.
“It is a political strategy — just like in football — you want your opponent distracted with internal problems,” he added.
On the June 12 Democracy Day, Sani praised Tinubu’s contributions to the democratic struggle, describing them as “unequalled and unparalleled.”
“This award is not about us but about June 12. It is an encouragement for Nigerians to make sacrifices,” he stated.
He urged Tinubu to remain tolerant of public demonstrations, recalling the president’s own history of backing protests.
“Someone who supported, funded, and participated in protests should have a government that is tolerant of protestation,” he advised.
Sani dismissed comparisons between Tinubu’s government and military rule, saying, “Those comparing Tinubu’s government to military rule are being economical with the truth… Democracy is not yet 100 per cent, but we are very far from where we came from.”
On the political tension in Rivers State, he warned against hasty decisions and called for dialogue.
“The idea of a state of emergency is just an attempt to find a solution and create space for them to dialogue,” he said.
President Tinubu had in March declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending some top officials and appointing an administrator to oversee the state.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
