Inside Men Playing Outsiders — Sani Drops Hammer on Political “Rebranders”
Byline: IDNN Political Ethics & Governance Desk
Abuja — Activist and former senator Shehu Sani has called out former governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, accusing them of opportunistic hypocrisy after both men issued recent scathing remarks about Nigeria’s governance under the Tinubu administration.
“You can’t spend years in the corridor of power, then walk out and pretend you’re shocked by the rot,” Sani said during a media interview on Monday.
He described their recent public statements as “moral theatrics by men who fed fat on the system.”
El-Rufai’s “Ideological Drift” Comment Sparks Response
The blast comes days after El-Rufai — a former Kaduna governor and minister — warned that Nigeria is drifting “without ideological clarity”, triggering intense debate about his sudden return to public commentary.
Amaechi, too, has recently accused the APC of abandoning its ideals and losing internal democracy.
But Shehu Sani was having none of it.
“When they had the power, they were silent. Now that they’re out, they’ve found their voices. It’s not courage — it’s convenience,” he stated.
Sani: “They Weaponized Silence When It Mattered”
He further accused both men of ignoring mass suffering and dissent during their time in office, only to now pose as reformers.
“If they had spoken up inside the room, they could’ve fixed things. They chose power over truth. That disqualifies them from moral outrage now.”
Nigerians React: Divided Over Redemption vs. Accountability
While some Nigerians on social media defended El-Rufai and Amaechi’s right to speak truth post-office, others backed Sani, saying political actors must face accountability for past silence.
“You can’t be fire when you’re out and water when you’re in,” one tweet read.
🔍 IDNN ETHICAL POLITICS ANALYSIS
When Former Insiders Cry Wolf — Is It Redemption or Revisionism?
👉 Why It Matters:
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Politicians often reinvent themselves after power fades
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Public trust is damaged when criticism feels like a strategy, not sincerity
👉 Sani’s Point Hits Hard Because:
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Both Amaechi and El-Rufai remained silent during policy crises
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Their new activism feels more like reputation rehab than repentance
🗣️ Bottom Line: Nigerians may welcome their critique — but they won’t forget their complicity.