Ahmed Rufai Sani | |
---|---|
Governor of Zamfara State | |
In office 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007 |
|
Preceded by | Jibril Yakubu |
Succeeded by | Mahmud Shinkafi |
Senator, Zamfara West | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 29 May 2007 |
|
Personal details | |
Born | 22 July 1960 Anka, Zamfara State, Nigeria |
Political party | All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) |
Alhaji Ahmed Rufai Sani Yerima (born 22 July 1960) was Governor of Zamfara State, Nigeria from May 1999 to May 2007, and is now Senator for Zamfara West. He is a member of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP).[1]
Contents |
Ahmed Rufai Sani was born on 22 July 1960 in Anka town, Zamfara State. He obtained a Master's Degree in Economics.[1]
Ahmed Rufai Sani was governor of Zamfara State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.[1]
In January 2001 Ahmed Sani Yerima met the federal minister of Water Resources, Mohammed Bello Kaliel and told him that Gusau Dam could dry up soon, asking the Federal Government to transfer water from the Bakolori Dam to Gusau.[2] In June 2002, two groups in Zamfara State petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that Ahmed Sani Yerima had mismanaged and misappropriated Federal funds. The state government had made claims for improvement, dredging and repairs of a collapsed portion of the Gusau barrage at the cost of N14.2 million, resuscitation of the Barrage at N92million and de-siting of the Gusau Dam Barrage at N1.8 million. However, nothing appreciable had been done.[3]
A controversial figure, he began the re-introduction of Sharia law in Nigeria. On August 10, 2006 it was revealed that he unsuccessfully tried to bribe Nuhu Ribadu of EFCC with N 1 million among other allegations of abuse of public funds.[4] He unsuccessfully attempted to clinch the party's presidential ticket for the presidential elections in 2007, but was eventually elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.He is presently the Minority Whip in the Federal Senate.
Ahmad Rufai Sani was elected Senator representing Zamfara West constituency for the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) in April 2007. He was appointed to committees on Selection, Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs, Drugs Narcotics Anti Corruption and Agriculture[1]
Senator Sani is currently under investigation for a recent accusation of marrying a 13 year old child bride from Egypt. This comes after an accusation in 2006 that he married a 15 year old child bride. He is being investigated for having violated Nigeria's Child Rights Act of 2003.[5] He has maintained that he has not violated sharia: "History tells us that Prophet Muhammad did marry a young girl as well. Therefore I have not contravened any law."[6] According to Al Jazeera, he paid $ 100,000 as dowry for the 13-year-old Egyptian.[7]
Ahmed Sani Yerima ran again in the 9 April 2011 elections for Senator for Zamfara West on the ANPP platform. He was reelected with 154,359 votes.[8]
|
|
|