Former Senator Shehu Sani has launched a scathing attack on former Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, labeling them as "architects of banditry, poverty, and hunger" in Nigeria following their recent criticisms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration.

Speaking to journalists in Kaduna, Sani dismissed the former governors' criticisms as hypocritical and motivated by personal disappointment rather than genuine concern for Nigerians.

"El-Rufai and Amaechi should bow their heads in shame. They are the architects of the banditry, poverty, and hunger they now pretend to lament. During their tenure, they did nothing to solve these issues, and now they cry foul simply because they have been left out of the current government," Sani stated.

The former lawmaker's comments come in response to El-Rufai's remarks during Amaechi's 60th birthday lecture, where the former Kaduna governor questioned Nigeria's current leadership structure and claimed the country has been taken over by "urban bandits."

Criticism Born of Exclusion

Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District, argued that while criticizing government is acceptable, the motivations behind El-Rufai and Amaechi's comments were questionable.

"There is nothing wrong with criticizing a government. But when such criticism stems from personal disappointment over missed appointments rather than genuine concern for the people, it becomes dangerous," he emphasized.

The former senator suggested that the ex-governors' sudden concern about Nigeria's challenges emerged only after they failed to secure positions in Tinubu's administration, characterizing their comments as self-serving and insincere.

This exchange highlights growing tensions within Nigeria's political landscape as former allies of the ruling party publicly criticize the current administration, raising questions about unity within political circles as the country faces significant economic and security challenges.