Dare Babalola
Former lawmaker Shehu Sani has reflected on his time in the National Assembly, warning young Nigerians aspiring to political office to brace for both the rewards and harsh realities of power.
In a post shared on Tuesday via X, Sani recounted how he and other senators frequently accompanied former Senate President Bukola Saraki to various courts in Abuja during his tenure, as the latter faced multiple legal battles.
“During our time in the Senate, we spent almost the whole four years escorting our Senate President Bukola Saraki to multiple courts in Abuja. In one court it’s forgery and criminal conspiracy, and in another it’s false declaration of assets,” Sani wrote.
He added that the demands of political life often overlapped with personal legal challenges, noting that he sometimes had to shuttle between Kaduna and Abuja to attend to his own cases while maintaining his legislative duties.
Sani also referenced the experiences of fellow lawmaker Dino Melaye, who he said faced intense legal and political battles during the same period.
“Senator Dino too was dragged to courts in Abuja and Kogi where he had issues with the governor. At a point, Brother Dino had to climb a tree to save himself from the fangs of power,” he stated.
Drawing parallels beyond Nigeria, Sani cited former U.S. President Donald Trump, noting that political figures globally are not immune to legal scrutiny and power struggles.
“Power is brutal, not just in Nigeria. Trump was also criminally charged to different courts and he too is today charging some of his critics,” he said.
The former senator concluded with a word of caution to younger generations, emphasizing that political power comes with both appealing and perilous dimensions.
“Anything you see happening today had happened yesterday. Those of you who are young and want to seek for public office in the future, just prepare yourself for the two sides of power; the sweet side and the dangerous side,” Sani added.
