Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has raised concern over Nigeria’s political culture, describing it as a major impediment to effective governance and national development.
Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Sunday, the outspoken All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain said the country’s democratic cycle is heavily dominated by political maneuvering, leaving little time for real governance. According to Sani, only about one year out of the constitutionally mandated four-year tenure is truly dedicated to governing.
“Our constitution provides for a four-year term in office, but in practice, governance only happens in the first year,” he lamented. “The second year is used to talk about the next election, the third year is about conducting the election, and the final year is for handover preparations. We waste more than 70% of each administration’s tenure on politicking.”
He decried the lack of focus on key issues such as economic reform, education, health, infrastructure, and technological advancement, noting that national discussions are often reduced to power struggles, endorsements, and political permutations.
“In serious countries, three and a half years out of every four should be dedicated to development. But in Nigeria, our discourse is not about how to become like Malaysia, Indonesia, or Japan. It’s about who takes over power, which coalition emerges, and who gets endorsed,” he said.
Sani urged political leaders to shift their focus from partisan interests and instead commit to building a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria. “We must start placing national interest above party interest. Politicians must see themselves as Nigerians first, before thinking about where they come from or what party they belong to.”
Commends Tinubu on Security but Urges Continued Vigilance
Commenting on President Bola Tinubu’s performance, particularly in the area of security, Senator Sani acknowledged some level of improvement. He said the spate of mass kidnappings of schoolchildren and brazen attacks on educational institutions which were once frequent under previous administration have significantly declined under Tinubu’s government.
“There are still security challenges, no doubt, but we must recognize that we haven’t heard of schoolchildren being abducted en masse in recent months,” he said. “In Kaduna, for example, we once had incidents at Greenfield University, Bethel Baptist School, and even the Nigerian Defence Academy. For now, those kinds of attacks have subsided. That’s progress.”
However, he cautioned against complacency and urged the government to continue investing in security and intelligence to completely root out banditry, terrorism, and other threats to national peace.
Rejects Mandatory Voting Bill
Senator Sani also expressed strong opposition to proposed legislation in the 10th National Assembly seeking to make voting compulsory in Nigeria.
“I don’t support compulsory voting. While it is important to encourage civic participation, forcing people to vote could have unintended consequences,” he stated.
He advocated instead for increased voter education, emphasizing that Nigerians should be enlightened about the importance of their votes and the consequences of political apathy. “Many Nigerians no longer see the value in voting, especially when they feel their votes don’t count. But that disinterest only empowers those who manipulate elections.”
Sani noted that citizens who obtain Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) but refuse to vote contribute to wasteful public spending. “PVCs are expensive and taxpayer-funded. If you don’t intend to vote, why collect one? And if you don’t vote, you lose the moral right to complain when the wrong people are elected.”
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