Dan Bilki Commander, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has said assault won’t deter him from telling truth to power.
He said this in an interview with Aminiya, the Hausa publication of Daily Trust.
A video of the Kano-based politician being beaten publicly trended on social media, on Thursday.
Daily Trust reports that the politician was handcuffed and caned by some unidentified persons.
In another video where he narrated his ordeal, Commander accused Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State of being behind the incident.
In his interview with Aminiya, Commander disregarded the Kaduna State Government’s claim that Uba Sani has no hand in his travail.
He said he was brutalized because he commented on how Uba Sani allegedly betrayed former Governor Nasiru El-Rufai.
The politician said the assault happened in Abuja, narrating how he was picked at Jabi Lifecamp on Wednesday, and dropped off at Wuse ll.
“They previously took me very close to LifeCamp dam and asked me to alight. They already parked another car there boarded by four men. Also four men picked me.
“They handcuffed me, whppied and kicked me with their boots. They said that I must confess, but I refused since I did not abuse him.
“I have a stake in Northern Nigerian politics, let alone Kaduna State. They insisted that I must denounce and since I was being coerced and an old man I recanted.
“The car was Toyota Camry. After removing the handcuffs, they asked me never to comment on Governor Uba Sani again. And if I do, they will pick me again. They said if I kick against them, they wouldbkill me.
“During elctionioring campaign, I and my social media team spent about a month in Kaduna State because of El-Rufai. All this while Uba Sani didn’t know me, but I know him. He has never given me a penny.
“I respect El-Rufai because during the time of Hadiza Bala at Port Authority, he asked her to come that I arrived. She has helped me a lot. This is the reason I respect El-Rufai. I have no relationship whatsoever with Uba Sani.
“This was caused by Uba Sani’s betrayal of El-Rufai. El-rufai made Uba Sani what he is today. Nobody knew him in Kaduna, but he appointed him an SSA. Many people were aspiring for the post of a senator, but El-Rufai anointed Uba Sani.
“El-Rufai won the primary election and the the secondary election for him. But for El-Rufai, Uba Sani will never be governor of Kaduna State because nobody knew him in Kaduna and he didn’t have a good relationship with the people. He is arrogant and unjust. He thinks he is better than everyone.
“I commented on this, saying he is wrong. I said he didn’t know politics and he lacks human relations. And I said he betrayed El-Rufai.”
On the position of Kaduna government that the governor did not approve of the action, he said, “Kaduna State Government is lying. They just want to deceive the public. About eight days ago I was told that his people had lunched a manhunt for me to humiliate me.
“Previously, they humiliated a lady and a social media influencer who supports El-Rufai. They guy was brutalized at a market.
“Uba Sani hates opposition because he doesn’t know politics. Only a real poitician knows the value of opposition. Obasanjo, Year Adua, Goodluck, and Buhari were opposed; and now Bola Tinubu is being opposed. Uba Sani doesn’t know politics and he will not know because he is arrogant.
“Kaduna State Government apparently has a hand in my travails. My assailants videod me. People easily forget history. If not for circumstances how can Uba Sani become governor of Kaduna State? A beggar is more worthy of recognition to me than Uba Sani.
“I was about to report the case to the police today, but I went to see a doctor. He examined me and ascertained that I am well. I left him late. But tomorrow I will report the case to the police headquarters.
“The gang leader called called Uba Sani’s boys I told them they arrested me. He wanted them to ask the governor if he wanted me to be taken there; but they told him that the governor was upstairs. They made the call in my presence.
“Nigerian politics needs years to stabilize. The constitution covers us to cry wolf where we see infraction in the system. And we are in the right position to speak if an APC government detracts.
“We speak where they are wrong because we sell them to the public. And if we keep quite, people will start to disregard whatever we say.
“I am a product of NEPU: I was a member of PRP and a disciple of Abubakr Rimi. I will never stop speaking to power. I will never like a politician as I did Muhamadu Buhari. I was beaten, imprisoned and humiliated because of him. Despite this I spoke when he was wrong. Unfortunatelyc, now even some clerics can’t speak to power because they care for their meals.”
The Kaduna State Government has since instituted a probe into the assault distancing the governor from the attack.
