Shehu Sani: I did not mean to upset Fayemi

 Human rights activist turned senator from Kaduna State, Shehu Sani, has declared that his question to agovernor Kayode Fayemi during the Tuesday ministerial screening was a friendly one.

Sani made the clarification amid controversy over the question many people described as “irrelevant and attention-seeking.”

Even the senator’s attempt to clarify the issue has attracted more criticisms for him.

The senator went to his Twitter and Facebook pages to drop what appeared like an insider’s view in a bid to clarify the question thrown at Fayemi.

 The activist-turned politician classified questions asked by his colleagues at the ongoing ministerial screening into two – “friendly” and “hostile” questions.

While friendly questions, according to him, are from the ruling All Progressives Congress, where he belongs, the “hostile missiles” are usually raised by members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The senator noted, “While you watch, also learn or understand the difference between friendly questions from one side and hostile missiles from the other side. That reflects the divide between the ruling party and the opposition party.”

He was responding to the mockery that followed an earlier comment on his days in prison during the screening of Fayemi.

Like some of his previous comments, the supposed clarification has caused a social media backlash, as critics swiftly took on him. They observed that there was no such dichotomy going by the trends of questions raised at the screening.

The Facebook post generated many harsh criticisms from users who observed that Sani was gradually becoming more of a ‘showman’ than a lawmaker.

According to one Segun Fajoyegbe, lawmakers have set aside their political differences and are embracing “class act” to protect their personal interests rather than national goal.

“There was no division among the legislators. What we witnessed was a class act by Nigerian politicians who set aside their differences in order to protect their interests,” Fajoyegbe noted.

Many others wondered what Sani intended to achieve by painting a picture of disharmony among the lawmakers when what was required was a united Senate.

Sani’s fresh ‘trouble’ on social media started on Tuesday when he shared what has become his favourite story with the Senate and the country.

While questioning Fayemi, Sani narrated how he suffered incarceration during his activism days. Not long after his narration, the social media took over, making mockery of Sani over his Kiriki Prison’s tale and his question, which many people described as irrelevant.

“I doubt if Sani can make three straight sentences without reminding us about the time he was imprisoned,” tweeted D. Olusegun.

“The world will likely come to an end the day Sani forgets to remind us of his incarceration,” added @Ayourb.

When Solomon Dalong, a lawyer and ex-prison officer, came up for screening on Wednesday, many social media users urged Sani to ask about the condition of Nigerian prisons.

The senator is, certainly, one lawmaker to watch out for in the next four years. At least, he has created some excitement on digital media.

Sani may have taken over from Ben Murray-Bruce of Bayelsa State, who many social media influencers predicted would be the ‘poster boy’ of the 2015/2019 Senate session.

Before the inauguration of the Eighth Senate, Murray-Bruce carved a name for himself on digital media, setting agenda for all sectors of the economy. Not much ‘noise’ is coming from him anymore.