“Stop That Talk!” — Nigerians Drag Shehu Sani Over Sowore–Kanu Debate
By Passman Akpos
A wave of heated reactions has trailed comments made by former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, who reflected on the long-running legal battles of activist Omoyele Sowore and the recent sentencing of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement circulating widely on social media, Sani praised Sowore’s consistency in preparing for legal confrontations, describing his reliance on a strong legal team as a lesson inherited from the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti.
> “Comrade Sowore has been in and out of trouble countless times. One thing he never jokes with is his legal team… Using the instrument of the law to tackle persecution is very important. When you walk into trouble with the state, you must learn how to walk out of it,”Sani wrote.
But his remarks ignited a storm of criticism, especially from commentators who argued that legal strategy means little when the state has already made up its mind on a politically sensitive case.
“The judgment was decided long before the trial” — Critics fire back
Several respondents insisted that Nnamdi Kanu’s case was predetermined, drawing controversial parallels with past electoral tribunal decisions.
One commenter wrote:
> “If you like, make MNK assemble all the SANs in this country, his case was already decided….”
Another dismissed Sani’s point entirely:
> “Someone will read this and think you know what you’re saying. So Nigeria has judiciary? When the executive doesn’t see you as a threat, the judiciary relaxes. They take orders from above.”
Others suggested that political calculations, not the strength of a defense team, shape high-profile outcomes.
> “Kanu knew the end had been decided before the charade… even if he repented, he would never be reintegrated with any juicy appointment.”
Supporters highlight Sowore’s consistency
Despite the disagreements, some users acknowledged Sowore’s strict adherence to legal defense.
> “Anywhere you see Sowore, he’s with his lawyers – even on protest grounds,”one commenter noted.
Another praised the activist’s survival instincts:
> “He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day… There’s always another day.”
Prophecies, satire, and political frustration
The online debate soon took a mix of serious and satirical turns. One user humorously questioned how Sani ended up in the National Assembly, while another made a dramatic prediction:
> “I saw a vision that Kanu will be released in 2038 to contest for president and become the Mandela of Nigeria.”
Others argued the case would become a notorious reference in legal education:
> “Kanu’s sentence will be studied in law school… an innocent man sentenced because he spoke through a microphone from Britain.”
The conversation also veered into cultural and historical comparisons, with one user referencing the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
A Debate Showing Nigeria’s Deep Political Divides
The exchanges underscore the intense polarization surrounding high-profile political trials in Nigeria. While Shehu Sani emphasized legal preparedness as a survival tool for activists, many respondents insisted that in cases involving national security or high political stakes, legal defenses play a secondary role to state interests.
The controversy highlights long-standing public skepticism about judicial independence, the role of political influence, and the limits of activism in Nigeria’s evolving democratic space.
