₦airaland Forum

Uba Sani’s Political Persecution of Nasir El-Rufai: A Note of Warning - Mustapha Sani

Politics is often shaped by shifting allegiances, but some betrayals are so brazen that they serve as a warning to all. The unfolding persecution of Nasir El-Rufai by his one-time ally and protégé, Governor Uba Sani, is a textbook case of political treachery, one that reveals the fragility of friendships in Nigerian politics and the dangerous weaponisation of state power.

El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, was instrumental in Uba Sani’s rise to power. He championed his political career, defended his right to contest the 2018 APC primaries, and eventually paved the way for him to succeed him as governor. Sani’s campaign was built on continuity with El-Rufai’s governance. Yet, within months of assuming office, he turned against the very legacy that got him elected. His administration is now leading a coordinated assault against El-Rufai and his former officials, using fabricated corruption allegations as a tool of persecution.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly’s so-called report, which alleges that N423bn went missing under El-Rufai’s tenure, is an embarrassingly obvious political hatchet job. The accusations have been debunked repeatedly, with clear evidence showing that most of the loans cited were either not drawn under El-Rufai’s administration or were only disbursed after his tenure. Yet, despite the lack of credible evidence, Sani’s government is pushing criminal charges against El-Rufai’s former officials (having failed to nail El-Rufai himself), determined to frame them as corrupt.

The persecution of Bashir Saidu and Jimi Lawal is particularly alarming. Both men remain unjustly detained despite being granted bail, with the Kaduna government resorting to crude tactics such as suspending land verification services in an entire state to keep them in prison. What a classic example of cutting your nose to spite your face! This is not governance in any way, shape or form. Instead, the incumbent is pursuing a personal vendetta, waged with the full force of state power.

But what does this say about Uba Sani’s character? His actions expose him as a man who is willing to discard friendships, rewrite history, and betray his benefactor for political survival. This should serve as a warning not just to El-Rufai’s allies, but especially to the President and all the President’s men whom Uba Sani is seeking to ingratiate himself with at the expense of his former ally.

If Sani can so easily turn on the man who helped his political career, what loyalty can he offer to those in Abuja whom he now seeks to please? Today, he is using the power of the state to destroy his predecessor; tomorrow, he could just as easily turn on the very people he now flatters and aligns himself with. Power is fleeting, and history has shown that those who betray their allies for short-term gain often find themselves isolated when the tides turn.

Beyond politics, this episode also sends a dangerous signal about governance and leadership in Nigeria. When state institutions- legislative bodies, law enforcement, and the judiciary are all weaponised for personal vendettas, it weakens democracy and undermines trust in leadership.

Uba Sani’s actions are not those of a leader confident in his own governance or leadership abilities. Instead of focusing on delivering on his campaign promises, he is obsessed with rewriting the past and erasing El-Rufai’s legacy, even while taking credit for projects initiated under his predecessor. But no amount of political scheming can change the facts: El-Rufai’s tenure transformed Kaduna, increasing investment, boosting IGR, and implementing groundbreaking reforms. Sani’s efforts to discredit that legacy will ultimately fail, because progress always speaks louder than propaganda.

In the end, history will judge Uba Sani, not just for his betrayal of Nasir El-Rufai, but for the precedent he is setting. Those who rise to power through disloyalty often find themselves abandoned when they need loyalty the most. Power is fleeting, but betrayal leaves a lasting stain. As long as this political persecution continues, it will not be El-Rufai’s reputation that is destroyed. It will be Uba Sani’s own credibility that crumbles. And when the tides of politics shift, as they always do, he will inevitably find himself with no one left to defend him.

https://leaders.ng/2025/02/05/uba-sanis-political-persecution-of-nasir-el-rufai-a-note-of-warning-by-mustapha-sani/

El-Rufai is also serial betrayal. He's getting a dose of his medicine.

ALTERNATEID:
El-Rufai is also serial betrayal. He's getting a dose of his medicine.

Politicians are not loyal at all. Can’t believe it’s This same Uba Sani forming loyalty during the election that has now turned to Lion persecuting those that brought him to power.

ALTERNATEID:
El-Rufai is also serial betrayal. He's getting a dose of his medicine.

Uba Sani is an ingrate. What he is doing to Elrfuai is wrong

Governor Sani is serving Elrufai hot but he should watch out cos he has a second term to run. Elrufai is a strategic politician and he will strike at the right time

He done learn the heart of betrayer from the yorubas, Those people can betray you for free or for no reasons

This is deep...😂😂

what is it with this useless people that don't invent anything for us
they can not reduce poverty but you will hear their names everytime.

…

Fubara Vs Wike
Uba Sani Vs Nasir El Rufai

Why can’t these guys be like

Pastor Uno Eno Vs Udom Emmanuel

But then I remember
Udom Emmanuel Vs Akpabio

Generally, no politician should sponsor anyone for governorship. 75% of the time, they become ingrates. Everyone with governorship ambition should sponsor himself

El-Rufai changed the chess board and left Sani with no option but to pursue peace or follow him down the rabbit hole.

Similar to Kano and kwakwazo need to fight and destroy even when no one is fighting with him and he has won already.

ogugwa1992:
Uba Sani’s Political Persecution of Nasir El-Rufai: A Note of Warning - Mustapha Sani


https://leaders.ng/2025/02/05/uba-sanis-political-persecution-of-nasir-el-rufai-a-note-of-warning-by-mustapha-sani/

ogugwa1992:
Uba Sani is an ingrate. What he is doing to Elrfuai is wrong

Governor Sani is serving Elrufai hot but he should watch out cos he has a second term to run. Elrufai is a strategic politician and he will strike at the right time

Was obaseki not applauded??

Is fubara not applauded??

Double standard everywhere

Here to note those who will reprimand Uba Sani but praising Fabura.

Fubara is the pretend cat who suddenly became a lion and Wike is still in shock. This will always happen because everyone wants to be the king of his own castle but the wise will at least play dumb for the first year to solidify their hold on power.

SendoSendal:
Fubara Vs Wike
Uba Sani Vs Nasir El Rufai

Why can’t these guys be like

Pastor Uno Eno Vs Udom Emmanuel

But then I remember
Udom Emmanuel Vs Akpabio

Generally, no politician should sponsor anyone for governorship. 75% of the time, they become ingrates. Everyone with governorship ambition should sponsor himself

The easiest way to hunt ur political enemy when in power is to probe them for corruption. U will find mind blowing corruption becos corruption is in every nigerian polithieftian in great proportions

All of them are same teeeves

gabbytabby:
Fubara is the pretend cat who suddenly became a lion and Wike is still in shock. This will always happen because everyone wants to be the king of his own castle but the wise will at least play dumb for the first year to solidify their hold on power.

LoL at pretended cat 😺, Haha 😂

Kennyfancy:
He done learn the heart of betrayer from the yorubas, Those people can betray you for free or for no reasons

The way Fubara from Oyo state betrayed wike ba?

Same way obi frrom ogbomsho betrayed apga after swearing with his children never to dump apga ba?

The way Dasuki, olisah Metuh and Peter obi from SW betrayed Gej ba?

The way amaechi and Timipere from Osun state betrayed Gej ba?

Hello pls as you opened that your mouth without proper thinking and just talked closed it back with proper thinking and never open it again.

If you come back here to talk stupid then I will be left with no option than to sit your a s s on a hot plate of words you never heard in your life

What El-Rufai is currently experiencing is pure karma

ogugwa1992:
Uba Sani is an ingrate. What he is doing to Elrfuai is wrong

Governor Sani is serving Elrufai hot but he should watch out cos he has a second term to run. Elrufai is a strategic politician and he will strike at the right time

Sim fubara is a hero 🤣🤣

Uba Sani cannot win a free and fair election in the Kaduna of today. During the local government Council elections some few months ago, he got booed by voters at his own polling unit, making him to quickly scamper away and his security details shot and killed a young boy while trying to get away. All results were declared in favour of the APC even with elections not holding anywhere in the State.

Don't forget that Elrufai was the first governor to introduce Electronic voting at local government level in Nigeria. When Uba Sani came in, he repealed the law reverting to manual voting. The whole Kaduna, including the much touted "Southern Kaduna" were ready to vote against his party, the APC.

Here is the video of Uba Sani at his polling unit. These are the same people the President is relying upon to deliver the North for him, while doing away with formidable collusus like Elrufai.

Yar PR kawai. This was Uba Sani being booed when he arrived to cast vote. The security couldn't intimidate the crowd 👍 https://t.co/U3BHahSK0V pic.twitter.com/OiIukXPm8o

— Gagocious ⚽🥉🐎 (@Osman__Naseer) October 20, 2024

Aminda is here

Well, El rufai will find out

El rufai just dey overrate himself
If not for the tsunami of PMB
Who is El Rufai.........??
That guy is only loyal to himself
Anywhere food dey, he go shook head
As long as it is beneficial to him
If it is not
He go scatter everywhere
Mtchewwwwwwwwww

ALTERNATEID:
El-Rufai is also serial betrayal. He's getting a dose of his medicine.

Wasn’t it Atikulation Abubakar that brought Hell Rufai to Obasanjo’s government, how come Hell Rufai stabbed Atikulation and led Obasanjo’s camp to destroy Atikulation?

ALTERNATEID:
El-Rufai is also serial betrayal. He's getting a dose of his medicine.

That's what people don't understand, life has a way of throwing back at you what you throw at it. As long as the earth remains, seed and harvest time will not cease says the Bible.

You reap what you sow!

simpleseyi:
Wasn’t it Atikulation Abubakar that brought Hell Rufai to Obasanjo’s government, hie come Hell Rufai stabbed Atikulation and led Obasanjo’s camp to destroy Atikulation?

The lie that Elrufai betrayed Atiku must be put to rest. First of all, Atiku never brought Elrufai to limelight. Elrufai was already an accomplished proffessional and co-founder of one of the foremost quantity surveying firms (Google "Elrufai & Partners" and checkout their portfolios) in Nigeria even before 1999. Obasanjo brought him to head the BPE after he drafted a privatisation pathway for the country as part of the Transition Committee of the Abdulsalam military to democracy regime. BPE then just happened to be under the Vice President as Head of the economic Council and he never betrayed Atiku. Elrufai has always been wealthy and a cerebral collusus. Please read his interview granted to Princeton University as far back as 2009.
https://successfulsocieties.princeton.edu/interviews/nasir-el-rufai

Below is Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Princeton interview granted in same 2009. This means that although Tinubu might be older in age and politics, Elrufai has always been up there, locally and internationally as far as policies and governance in Nigeria go. You may not like it but Elrufai is not a pushover and he is not Tinubu's boy.

https://successfulsocieties.princeton.edu/interviews/bola-tinubu

Umarnuhu1990:
Politicians are not loyal at all. Can’t believe it’s This same Uba Sani forming loyalty during the election that has now turned to Lion persecuting those that brought him to power.

Niggur was crying sef during results coalition. Well it's his time to shine, history will tell 🤷

ogugwa1992:
Uba Sani is an ingrate. What he is doing to Elrfuai is wrong

Governor Sani is serving Elrufai hot but he should watch out cos he has a second term to run. Elrufai is a strategic politician and he will strike at the right time

But Fubara is doing well by betraying Wike, right?

Umarnuhu1990:
Politicians are not loyal at all. Can’t believe it’s This same Uba Sani forming loyalty during the election that has now turned to Lion persecuting those that brought him to power.

He has to solidify his power too. It's just like how Gov Ambode was dealth with 🤷 . Keep godfathers aside

Gotocourt:
He has to solidify his power too. It's just like how Gov Ambode was dealth with 🤷 . Keep godfathers aside

The difference is that Elrufai never interfered in Uba Sani's government and Uba Sani started to fight with him right from day one by working against his confirmation. Our only disappointment is that Tinubu took the side of Uba Sani despite everything Elrufai did for him. Uba Sani is lightweight, politically.

Tinubu will soon find out that Elrufai is a dependable ally but a very formidable foe. Bear in mind that the opposition APC is currently facing are between people whom all voted for Tinubu in 2023. Atiku and Obi have not even joined the conversation yet.

ogugwa1992:
Uba Sani is an ingrate. What he is doing to Elrfuai is wrong

Governor Sani is serving Elrufai hot but he should watch out cos he has a second term to run. Elrufai is a strategic politician and he will strike at the right time

see this obaseki boy talking about ingrate here. God go punish you with your hypocrisy here. Your paymaster obaseki betrayed Oshiomhole, yet you worked for him till he left office. Yeye people.

Uba Sani's first loyalty is to the good people of Kaduna state.

Former governor Nasir El-Rufai has betrayed Kaduna State, Nigeria, the APC and all other good people who were his friends.

Nasir El-Rufai has been actively carrying out anti party activities by hobnobbing with Atiku and even the likes of tha pathological liar called Obi.

ogugwa1992:
Uba Sani’s Political Persecution of Nasir El-Rufai: A Note of Warning - Mustapha Sani


https://leaders.ng/2025/02/05/uba-sanis-political-persecution-of-nasir-el-rufai-a-note-of-warning-by-mustapha-sani/

But the politicians themselves are serial betrayers and they are not loyal to Nigerians.
They came, they romance with citizens, pretend to be a good person that wants the good of the people and the country. They deceive the citizens into voting and electing them.
Once they grab the power, the citizens can die of hunger and for the results of their bad policies. They don't give a damn