Shehu Sani, the former senator who represented Kaduna Central in the eighth Senate, has honoured Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna state, as a defender of democracy in Nigeria.

Sani made the honour during his address at the reception for the celebration of Democracy Day on Wednesday, June 12, in which President Bola Tinubu was in attendance. He added that the immediate past governor of his state was one of those who stood by him and others who were detained by the military.

His statement reads in part:

“Mr President, even though the governor of Kaduna state removed me from the seat, I will always remember that he was one of those who stood for us when we were in prison. He was among those who kept the torch of freedom alive while many of us languished in the cell.”

Shehu Sani speaks on democracy

Sani, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) maintained that democracy should be celebrated because it was not what was earned on the platter of gold, it was not a lottery Nigeria won, it was what was fought for.

He added that it was imperative for the president to succeed so that the democratic heroes would have something to tell the younger generations that it was the best of government. Sani maintained that if Tinubu failed, they would be mocked for having nothing to offer the country, but expressed the optimism that the president would succeed.

He added that this is because Tinubu came from the “trenches”, and his success would be celebrated.

See the video of his address here:

"A national anthem, pledge or constitution can not unite a nation, a nation is united by the ideals of freedom, equity, and justice", Sen. Shehu Sani tells President Bola Tinubu at the Democracy Day dinner in Abuja. pic.twitter.com/BxYWXH16HS

— TVC News (@tvcnewsng) June 12, 2024