Governor Uba Sani Warns Against Political Activists Undermining Democracy

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has raised concerns regarding the rise of what he terms 'latter-day activists.' He characterized these individuals as politicians who tend to undermine Nigeria's democratic framework when confronted with policies they find unfavorable.

Sani delivered these remarks during a break of the Ramadan fast with journalists at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna on Thursday.

He emphasized the pivotal role journalists play in the fight for democracy in Nigeria and urged them to stay alert against forces that are anti-democratic.

"In our struggle, as civil rights activists, we relied heavily on the media. Many journalists faced oppression, with some even losing their lives while advocating for democracy," he noted.

The governor highlighted that the contributions of journalists are integral to Nigeria's democratic journey. "It is not possible to discuss democracy today without acknowledging the role of journalists. Therefore, it is crucial to remain vigilant about these conflict-driven politicians," he cautioned.

Sani accused such politicians of neglecting key developmental issues like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, while instead utilizing ethnicity and religion to create divisions among Nigerians.

"As election campaigns commence, they will veer towards such issues instead of focusing on matters that concern all Nigerians, regardless of cultural or religious backgrounds," he remarked.

He went on to describe some individuals as 'emergency activists' who weren't part of the pro-democracy movement. "During our struggle for democratic governance, many of these individuals were colluding with military regimes. Now, they emerge out of nowhere, attempting to instruct us on democracy," he stated.

Governor Sani urged the public to critically assess the democratic values of such figures, as their prior behavior stands in stark contrast to their current claims.

"What knowledge do they have regarding fundamental human rights? What do they understand about freedom, the rule of law, equality, and justice?" he questioned.

He called on journalists to hold these politicians responsible by examining their historical records.

In his address, Sani also shared achievements of his administration, including significant infrastructure development in 12 Local Government Areas that had seen no road construction in over a decade before he took office.

He stated that during the past two and a half years, his administration has initiated development projects across all 23 local government areas in accordance with principles of fairness and justice.

Moreover, Sani revealed that only five out of 32 secondary healthcare facilities were functional when he assumed office. "Currently, we are renovating, equipping, and upgrading 15 of these healthcare centers," he added.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Kaduna State previously had around 580,000 out-of-school youths. He reported that this number has since decreased to 182,000 due to various government efforts.

Additionally, Sani mentioned that his government, in collaboration with international partners like the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and UNICEF, aims to construct 102 new schools.

He noted that Kaduna State has successfully secured approximately 62.8 million US Dollars in funding aimed at addressing the issue of out-of-school children.

The governor concluded by reiterating, "Our priority is to ensure that every child in Kaduna State has the opportunity to attend school, as we believe education is the most powerful equalizer in society."