Uba Sani to journalists: You fought for democracy, beware of ‘latter-day activists’

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has warned journalists in the state against the activities of politicians he described as “latter-day activists”, saying Nigeria is under the threat of individuals who are bent on scuttling democracy if government’s decisions and policy outcomes are not in their favour.

Sani said this after breaking the Ramadan fast with journalists at the Government House in Kaduna on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

The governor stated that journalists fought for democracy more than any group of professionals in Nigeria, so they should not allow what they sacrificed for to be truncated by anti-democratic forces.

He said: “When we were in the struggle, we the civil rights activists, relied mostly on journalists. Most of them lost their freedoms. Some of them lost their lives when we were fighting for democracy.

“Nigerians cannot talk of democracy today without the contribution of journalists. So, you have to be vigilant about these category of politicians who are conflict merchants.”

Sani further lashed out at many politicians for neglecting issues of development such as healthcare, education, human capital, and infrastructural development or unemployment and poverty.

“Rather, they dwell on ethnicity and religion which divide the country. When campaigns begin, they will focus on these issues instead of focusing on matters that affect all Nigerians irrespective of ethno-religious affiliations,” he said.

The governor added that many of “these emergency activists” were anti-democratic forces who “were not with us in the struggle but today, I’m surprised that they are the latter day activists.”

Sani said: “When we were fighting for democracy, they were partnering with military dictators. Today, from nowhere, they are trying to teach us democracy.

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“What do they know about fundamental human rights? What do they know about freedom? What do they know about the rule of law? What do they know about equality? What do they know about justice?”

According to Governor Sani, these are the questions that journalists should ask the politicians he referred to as activists, adding that they should hold them to their pasts.

He said based on available data, there were 12 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State without a kilometre of road in 10 years before the coming of this administration.

The governor however said his administration has taken development to all 23 LGAs in the last two and half years, in line with equity and justice.

He added: “Out of 32 secondary hospitals that we have in Kaduna State, only five were equipped and functional when we came in. Today, we are renovating, equipping and remodelling 15 out of the 32.

“We had about 580,000 out-of-school-children in Kaduna State according to the National Bureau of Statistics. We have reduced the number to 182,000. Together with Kuwait Development Fund, Islamic Development Bank, UNICEF, and other development partners, we will build additional 102 schools.”

Sani further stated that Kaduna State is the only subnational that has so far benefitted from the funding of $62.8 million to address the issue of out-of-school children “because we are running a transparent government.”

“Our focus is to leave no child outside the classroom in Kaduna State because we believe that education is the greatest leveller that is why we have to give education to the children of the poor,” the governor added.

The Star