By Saleh Salihu Saminaka
The resignation of Prof. Sani Bello and Benjamin Jock — two high-ranking figures in Governor Uba Sani’s inner political circle — has sent shockwaves through the Kaduna State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC), exposing the deepening rot and internal fractures within the administration.
Prof. Sani Bello, Director-General of Uba Sani’s 2023 gubernatorial campaign and former Commissioner for Information, tendered his resignation amidst rising tensions. Similarly, Benjamin Jock, the Secretary of the Campaign Council and former Senior Special Assistant on Infrastructure, walked away from a government he once helped usher into power.
Their quiet but symbolic exits have triggered widespread outrage among both serving political appointees and the party hierarchy. The implications are grave: the once tightly knit political machinery that swept Uba Sani into power now appears to be collapsing under the weight of disillusionment, betrayal, and gross mismanagement.
A Cascade of Resignations
The resignations of Prof. Bello and Jock are only the latest in a growing list of trusted aides who have abandoned the Uba Sani administration, unable to stomach what insiders describe as “a toxic blend of excessive greed, governance by paranoia, and institutionalised disrespect.”
Among those who previously resigned are:
- Dr. Shehu Makarfi – Former Commissioner for Education and Local Government, who resigned as Senior Counsellor on Political Affairs.
- Barrister Chris Umar, SAN – Stepped down as Deputy Chief of Staff (Legal and Legislative Matters).
- Hassan Rilwan – Former Adviser on Student Affairs.
- Umar Hassan Waziri – Former Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration).
These were not fringe appointees — they were senior government officials, many instrumental in building the Uba Sani campaign structure in 2023. According to multiple sources within the State Executive Council, their exits reflect more than personal grievances; they expose a pattern of micromanagement, humiliation, and erratic leadership that has left the administration paralysed.
A Governor at War With His Team
It is no longer a secret in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House that Governor Uba Sani is increasingly isolated from his own government. According to insiders, the current Secretary to the State Government (SSG) has made repeated efforts to resign, citing untenable working conditions, but has been persuaded to stay — for now.
Several commissioners are contemplating resignation, with some already choosing to fold their arms or, in drastic cases, prepare to work against the governor’s re-election bid.
“He will go into the 2027 elections alone. Nobody wants to campaign for a man who rules by insults and rewards betrayal,” one serving official told this reporter.
The toxic environment is worsened by the governor’s frequent outbursts. Multiple sources confirm that Uba Sani has developed a disturbing habit of publicly humiliating his commissioners, special advisers, and even permanent secretaries — using words described as “unprintable and dehumanising.” One commissioner reportedly collapsed and broke down in tears in his office after being verbally assaulted by the governor during a closed-door meeting.
Rewarding Betrayal, Punishing Loyalty
Perhaps the most galling grievance among the governor’s original loyalists is his pattern of appointments since 2023. Many who fought tooth and nail to deliver Uba Sani at the polls have been sidelined in favour of individuals who either openly opposed him or worked against the APC in the last elections.
The grim joke circulating in Kaduna’s political corridors is:
“Support Uba Sani and get punished. Fight him and get promoted.”
The result is a collapse in morale among his core team. Even those still serving in government do so with visible bitterness.
A Party in Collapse
Within the APC, the situation is deteriorating rapidly. In Governor Uba Sani’s own Kaduna North Local Government, party executives and ward chairmen have been resigning en masse over the last two months — a clear sign that the governor is losing control of his political base.
Worse still, memories remain fresh of the humiliating episode during the local government elections in October last year, when the governor was reportedly barred by angry voters at his polling unit in Kawo, Kaduna North. Security agents fired sporadically to evacuate him, but a stray bullet tragically struck and killed a young man.
“That was the moment people realised the emperor had no clothes,” a local APC stalwart said.
The Price of Micromanagement
Governor Uba Sani’s style of governance — a cocktail of paranoia, micromanagement, and exclusion — has alienated nearly every key player within his team. Instead of building a legacy, he is now struggling to hold together what remains of his crumbling administration.
As Kaduna inches toward 2027, one question looms large: Who will fight for Uba Sani when the time comes? From all indications, the answer may be no one.
Zamani Lekwot Controversy
The governor’s recent visit and glowing tribute to controversial retired General Zamani Lekwot has further alienated the Muslim majority who overwhelmingly voted for his Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023.
To many survivors of the 1992 Zangon Kataf crisis, this was nothing short of betrayal. Political insiders believe the visit was an ill-advised attempt at image laundering — one that may fracture the religious and political base that brought him to power.
Ego-Driven Governance
Governor Uba Sani recently announced the creation of three new ministries — Humanitarian Affairs, Youth Development, and Information — without constitutional procedure or legislative approval.
In another glaring breach, Ahmed Maiyaki, a commissioner-designate, attended an Executive Council meeting despite neither being screened nor sworn in as required by law.
The ₦9.7 Billion Question
Governor Uba Sani himself admitted that Kaduna’s 23 local governments receive over ₦100 million monthly each. However, FAAC records show ₦12+ billion has been disbursed monthly in the last two years.
If each LGA only gets ₦100 million (₦2.3 billion total), the glaring question is: where is the remaining ₦9.7 billion going?
Unlike during El-Rufai’s tenure — when visible projects were executed by LGAs — there is now no evidence of grassroots development.
Nepotism on Steroids
Governor Uba Sani has filled his administration with over 40 blood relatives and close associates in strategic positions. These include commissioners, advisers, permanent secretaries, and even lawmakers.
The result: a government run like a family enterprise, with loyalty replacing merit.
Rubber-Stamp Executive Council
The State Executive Council no longer governs. It merely ratifies decisions already taken by the governor. Since his inauguration, the Council has met only nine times.
Contracts worth billions are secretly awarded, with no competitive bidding, no advertisements, and no oversight. Ministries are often bypassed, as seen in the ₦20 billion contract for the renovation of Ahmadu Bello Stadium — awarded without consultation.
Fertiliser Scam and Double Contracts
The Romi-Karadu Road project, awarded and launched in 2023, suspiciously reappeared as a “new” contract in recent announcements. Similarly, a ₦5.2 billion fertiliser contract was inflated, with less than a quarter of the claimed quantity actually supplied.
Kaduna Shut Down in Governor’s Absence
When Governor Uba Sani travels, governance grinds to a halt. Expenditures as low as ₦5 million are withheld, leaving ministries stranded until his return.
“This is not governance. This is autocracy,” a senior civil servant lamented.
Conclusion
Governor Uba Sani promised to be a bridge between continuity and reform. Instead, he has become a symbol of betrayal, cronyism, and reckless governance.
His obsession with ambition, disregard for protocol, abuse of institutions, and nepotistic domination of the state have reduced Kaduna to a glorified personal estate.
Kaduna State deserves better. The people are watching. And history will not be kind to those who trade public trust for personal ambition.
Saminaka can be reached at: Salsami2023@gmail.com
