Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial zone, Comrade Shehu Sani, on Sunday reiterated his stand against the removal of fuel subsidy.

Former governors of Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa and Colonel Hammed Ali (rtd), and supported by hundreds of civil right activists including Comrade Shehu Sani of the then Civil Right Congress (CRC) had in January 2012 led the protest against the removal of petroleum subsidy that was attended by thousands from all the nooks and crannies of the state. The protest had grounded commercial and other activities in the state.

In an interview with newsmen, shortly after his visit to Balarabe Musa at his residence in Malali GRA, Kaduna, Comrade Sani insisted that removal of the subsidy will lead to untold hardship for the common man.

The Senator said: “My position against the removal of subsidy remains so because I believe that fuel need to be subsidised from the very fact that if it is removed, it will lead to untold hardship for the common man.

“Subsidy is very necessary to Nigeria, most importantly we need to get our refineries back on track, we also need to ensure that fraudulent companies and personalities don't exploit our position on subsidy to defraud the nation.”

Sani described Balarabe Musa as a man who did not make so much noise about corruption, but led an exemplary life with the meager resources under his control during his tenure as governor; adding: “For sure, you (Balarabe Musa) cannot be disputed as the best governor Kaduna State has ever had.

“Of recent I read your views (of Balarabe Musa) and if I were not a Senator and if I am not of the APC, certainly I would have lined behind you and aligned myself with all your positions. Such position is needed at this very time to give a sense of direction to the kind of politics which we are playing.”

Sani added: "As the Senator representing Kaduna Central, I will not in any way align myself with any anti-people policies carried out by any government in the state. We came to power on the mantra of change, and that change must be truly reflective of the interest and desires of the common people. I as a senator, I will oppose and resist any elitist politics and policies that is aimed at impoverishing and marginalising of the poor, those that voted us into power and the artisans, the traders, the farmers and the masses.

“Those are people that laboured hard to see us in power. These people resisted dictatorship, intimidation enticement and inducement from the PDP. So, I for one will always identify with them.

“As a senator, I come from the civil right background; we voted for this democracy, we went to jail for the democracy, we mobilize resistance for this democracy and we stood up and challenged tyrants when most of the people in power today were on the side of evil and of the devil.”

Sani maintained that Nigerian democracy was a struggle and not a gift given by the military, or a lottery won by the nation, but a product of struggle and sacrifice. According to him, “The sacrifice was by a section of the political class and the struggle was by the labour movement, the civil right movement and the intelligentsia and the Nigerian media.

“So, as long as I remain the Senator for Kaduna central I will continue to use examples from good people (like Blarabe Musa) as a compass that will see me through the period which I am going to serve in office.”

In his response, Balarabe Musa described Sen Sani and himself have been involved in a national struggle for the socialist reconstruction of Nigeria to ensure peace, economic prosperity, equality, justice and the dignity of the human person and the development of the entire country.

“This is the struggle and it was initiated by our predecessors. And we are very pleased that the result of our struggle has produced people like Senator Shehu Sani. I have been associated with him (Shehu Sani) for almost 35 years now, right from when he left Kaduna Polytechnic. Although now we happen to be in different political parties for different reasons,” he said.

•Photo shows Senator Sani with Alhaji Balarabe Musa exchanging pleasantries . . . on Sunday in Kaduna.

Update news