Sani was born on 29 October 1967 in Tudun Wada, Kaduna. His primary education started at the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Badarawa, Kaduna from 1975 to 1980. He began his education at Government Day Secondary School, Kagara, Niger State from 1980 to 1984 and then moved to Government Science College School, Kagara, Niger State. From 1984 to 1993 he studied at Kaduna Polytechnic, obtaining an associate degree in agricultural engineering.

Career

He was an activist in the student union while studying at Kaduna Polytechnic. He was the chairman of the Central Mobilization Committee of the PAN-AFRICAN Student Organization, and President of the African Democratic Youth Congress. He was also the Social Director of the Kaduna State Students Union. Sani was born into a middle-class Nigerian family. His father was the production manager.

After training in Germany and the United Kingdom, he worked for the pro-Northern New Nigerian Newspaper for 30 years. He had previously been a printer for the Kano Daily Mail. He was the official printer for Sokoto State between 1976 and 1979.

Sani took use of his father’s well-stocked library to further his knowledge. He especially liked novels that supported socialism and left-wing ideology at a period when Eastern European literature was flooding the market. Books inspired his thinking and socialist viewpoint on life but also exposed him to the decadence and grim reality of military dictatorships.

Sani was also influenced by Aminu Kano, the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and his mother, a local women’s leader.

Following his studies at Kaduna Polytechnic, Sani entered into national participation. He was introduced to the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Nigeria’s umbrella pro-democracy organisation by activists like Femi Falana and Beko Ransome-Kuti, and became the National Vice-Chairman and Northern Coordinator for the group.

First detained under the reign of General Babangida in July 1993. At the time, his offense was his support for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election results won by the late Chief M. K. O. Abiola. Sani was charged with sedition before the Kaduna magistrate court at Ibrahim Taiwo Road.

Sani co-founded the Movement for Unity and Progress and worked with other progressives from the north including Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, Bala Usman, James Bawa Magaji and Balarabe Musa to fight for the implementation of the annulled June 12 presidential election and other causes prior to his several detentions.

Sani is well known for his support of human rights activities for the indigent and underprivileged, and has had run-ins with security officers and other governmental officials.

He was the only human rights activist who spoke out against the massacre during the 2000 religious conflicts in Kaduna. In 2005, he was appointed to restructure civil society at a national summit. During the meeting, traditional rulers called for a stop to Sani’s speech since he had called for their dissolution for acting in the past as submissive supporters of military dictators.

Justice Niki Tobi, the chairman of the commission, rejected the call. It was the most suicidal thing yet he prepared the first journey to the “war zone” and pioneered the distribution of humanitarian goods during the Kaduna riot.

Political career

In 2015, Shehu Sani was elected as Senator for Kaduna Central on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts and the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs throughout his tenure.

He is also the first Nigerian senator to publicly declare his assets. He defected from APC to the People’s Redemption Party in 2018.

Contributions

Sani is a successful author with multiple books, plays, and poetry collections to his credit. Some of his notable achievements are

  • Killing Fields
  • Political Assassination in Nigeria
  • Scorpion Under Pillow
  • Civilian Dictators of Africa

 

Who is Shehu Sani wife?

Shehu Sani is married to Rabi Shehu and Hauwa Sani. The couple had children but no details about them have been made public.

Net Worth

The actual net worth of Shehu Sani is not known but judging by the fact that he is a senator, author, activist and public figure, he must be quite financially stable.

Social Media

X: @ShehuSani