At the This Nigeria Lecture and Award in Abuja, former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central during the 8th Senate, expressed his belief that the greatest mistake made by those who fought for democracy in Nigeria was their refusal to accept the military’s offer to take over power in 1999.
During a panel discussion at the event themed “25 Years of Unbroken Democracy – Challenges, Prospects and Possibilities,” Sani recounted his experiences, highlighting how he and his fellow democracy activists were imprisoned for years until the death of military leader Sani Abacha, which subsequently led to their release.
According to a report by Channels Television, Sani recalled that after Abacha’s death, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who succeeded Abacha, extended an invitation to the democracy fighters, offering them the opportunity to take over the government.
However, they rejected this offer, a decision Sani now views as a critical mistake.
He detailed how General Abubakar had called them multiple times with the proposal to transition to a democratic government, but prominent figures like Gani Fawehinmi opposed it, leading to their refusal to engage with the military.
Instead, the traditional politicians were eager to respond to Abubakar’s call and took the initiative to assume power.