The recent resurrection of a 2006 news article attempting to smear the character and reputation of Governor Uba Sani is a disservice to objective journalism and an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians. The allegations, which have never been substantiated in any court of law or by any credible anti-corruption agency, are a classic case of recycled political vendetta aimed at tarnishing one of Nigeria’s most accomplished public servants.
Pro-Democracy Roots of Uba Sani
To understand Governor Uba Sani is to understand his roots in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle. Long before he held any public office, he was a young activist who risked his life for the restoration of democratic rule. As a prominent figure in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and the Campaign for Democracy, he endured arrests, harassment, and detention, standing alongside legends like Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Dr. Beko Ransom-Kuti to fight for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate. His loyalty was to conscience and country, not to any political godfather. To label a man of such proven integrity as a “mole” is not just false; it is a grotesque rewriting of history.
Legislative Impact of the Kaduna State Governor
Governor Sani did not just participate in the 9th Senate; he shaped its agenda. Representing Kaduna Central, he sponsored 32 bills, with landmark legislation like the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFIA) Act 2022 being signed into law. His work modernised Nigeria’s financial sector and laid the foundation for the fintech revolution. For this, he was honoured as the “Most Valuable Parliamentarian” and “Overall Best Parliamentarian” of the 9th National Assembly. These are the achievements of a statesman, not a corrupt official.
Transformative Results in Kaduna State Governance
Since assuming office as Governor of Kaduna State on May 29, 2023, Uba Sani has delivered measurable outcomes that speak louder than any unsubstantiated petition. Through the Kaduna Peace Model—a blend of security collaboration and community engagement—markets have reopened, displaced communities have returned, and trade routes are thriving, with the state recording zero major conflict since 2023. In healthcare, 255 Primary Healthcare Centres have been upgraded to Level 2—the highest by any state in Nigeria—while a 300-bed Specialist Hospital and the Kaduna State Centre for Disease Control have been established. On education, tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions were reduced by 40%, over 300,000 out-of-school children have been re-enrolled, and skills acquisition centres are training thousands of youths. His first Executive Order focused on financial inclusion, resulting in over 2.5 million new bank accounts for the poor and vulnerable. His administration has secured 23 awards in just three years, including Governor of the Year for Peace, Security, and Inclusive Growth, while Kaduna State emerged first on the National Transparency and Integrity Index, affirming discipline and accountability in public finance.
Exposing the Political Smear Campaign Behind the Recycled Petition
Regarding the 2006 petition to the Code of Conduct Bureau, if there was any merit to these allegations, they would have led to prosecution or sanctions nearly two decades ago. The fact that Governor Sani has continued to rise in public service—from Special Assistant to Senator, and now to Governor—demonstrates the emptiness of these claims. The petition was politically motivated, a tool used by opponents during the intense Obasanjo-Atiku feud of that era. It is telling that those who now recycle these old stories are silent on his sterling performance and the overwhelming mandate of 730,002 votes he received from the people of Kaduna.
It is no coincidence that these baseless attacks are being revived at this precise moment. Today, Kaduna State is witnessing lawful, transparent investigations and trials into the financial dealings of the previous administration—a process Governor Sani has vowed to see through without fear or favour. Those leading the charge against him are not crusaders for justice; they are desperate proxies whose own skeletons are rattling loudly in their cupboards. They know that if Governor Sani is successfully discredited, the ongoing accountability process might lose its momentum. Their real fear is not corruption—it is exposure. They are terrified that the ongoing judicial inquiries will implicate their master and his inner circle, and they are using every old, discredited headline to distract the public and shield their patron from the long-overdue reckoning that awaits him. Governor Sani will not be intimidated, and the people of Kaduna will not be deceived.
Governor Uba Sani’s life is a testament to consistency, courage, and service. He has moved from activism to governance without losing his moral compass. His administration is not defined by noise, but by receipts—23 awards, thousands of lives touched, and a state rising from the ashes of division and insecurity. We reject these baseless attacks and call on Nigerians to judge him not by the slander of political detractors, but by the undeniable transformation of Kaduna State under his leadership. Let the investigations continue; the truth fears no inquiry.
