Stop smear campaigns against Dogara – Sen Shehu Sani advised

By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi

Senator Shehu Sani, who in the past represented Kaduna State in the Senate has been advised to desist from engaging in a smear image damaging campaign against former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara.

The assertion was made by a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Bauchi State, Hon Bulus Iliya, while addressing a Press Conference on Thursday, titled: “Senator Shehu Sani and the Unwarranted Attack on Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara.”

According to him, “In recent times, social media has been awash with comments and posts suggesting that His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, CFR, is vying for the position of Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This narrative, however, emerged suddenly and without any credible foundation.”

Bulus Iliya added that, “The origin of this speculation can be traced to a Facebook post by one Babangida Abubakar Haruna, who shared a poster featuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, alongside Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, with the inscription “President 2027” and “Vice President 2027” respectively. Initially, the post generated little to no attention and failed to gain traction on social media.”

He declared that, “The situation changed dramatically when former Kaduna State Senator, Shehu Sani, reposted the image with the caption: “Until now, I have never seen a person contesting to be Vice President. I believe it’s a mischief.” That single intervention gave the otherwise obscure post undue visibility and momentum.”

“On the surface, Senator Sani’s comment appeared harmless and even innocuous. However, beneath that façade lies a much deeper and more troubling intent. His statement was not merely a casual observation; it was a calculated attempt to ridicule, mock, and cast Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara in a negative light—portraying him as desperate and overly ambitious, for reasons best known to Senator Sani himself,” he added.

He stressed that, “It is difficult to believe that this was a coincidence. One may reasonably suspect a coordinated effort between Senator Sani and Babangida Abubakar Haruna, with the latter initiating the post and the former stepping in as a seemingly neutral observer to amplify it.”

According to him, “Senator Shehu Sani is not a random social media user. He is a seasoned public figure who understands the power of words and platforms. It therefore raises a legitimate question: why would he bother to repost and comment on what he knows beyond reasonable doubt to be a mischievous post from an otherwise unknown individual?”.

He asserted that, “The answer appears obvious. Senator Sani knew exactly what he was doing, why he was doing it, and for whose benefit. His action points to a more sinister political motive, possibly driven by local interests and the agenda of unseen political benefactors.”

According to Bulus Iliya,”The facts remain clear and incontrovertible. Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara is a loyal and committed member of his party and has consistently demonstrated unwavering support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The APC Chieftain stressed that, “The choice of a running mate is solely the constitutional prerogative of the President.This is what even a bed wetting politician knows let alone someone who presided over the House at the time Sen Sani was in the Senate. At no point in Nigeria’s political history have political parties sold nomination forms or conducted primaries for the office of Vice President.”

He stressed that, “Consequently, the idea of campaigning for such a position is both illogical and baseless. It is evil, to say the least, for Sen Sani to have attributed the post which has acknowledged authorship, to Rt Hon Yakubu knowing well that it could never have emanated from him.”

“Otherwise, how is the author, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara or where is the evidence that he was procured to do so by him? If Sen Sani cannot prove either of the two, then the conclusion must be that he was deliberately doing so for reasons best known to him as we continue to watch their ilks desperately working to undermine others thinking they can change God given destinies instead on focusing on building theirs,” he added.

Bulus Iliya concluded, “This fabrication is the work of Sen Sani and he should bear the shame alone and may be share it with the so called Babangida Abubakar Haruna who made the post, assuming that is not his his pen name.”