Shehu Sani Defends Fayose's REA Appointment as Grassroots Move

Shehu Sani, former Kaduna Central Senator, defended President Tinubu's appointment of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose as Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). Speaking on X earlier this week, Sani called Fayose a "grassroots politician and man of the masses" appointed to an agency where rural masses can access electricity. He countered critics by quoting: "Why do you want to judge him by what he said years ago? Let he who has never assured his EX that they will be together forever cast the first stone." Tinubu's spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced the REA chair appointment on Monday.

Fayose's REA chairmanship places a controversial political figure in charge of Nigeria's rural electricity access initiative. The REA oversees electrification projects for underserved communities nationwide. Sani's defense references ongoing criticism of Fayose's past statements and actions during his Ekiti governorship (2014-2018), suggesting the appointment signals Tinubu's willingness to overlook past controversies for perceived grassroots appeal in rural electrification efforts.

For rural Nigerians, this appointment could influence the pace and focus of electricity access projects in their communities. While Sani emphasizes Fayose's mass appeal, critics worry about potential politicization of REA's mandate. The REA recently launched the Nigerian Electrification Project targeting 5 million connections by 2027. Will Fayose's leadership accelerate rural power access for your community, or raise concerns about project integrity and equitable distribution of resources?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/22/rea-appointment-fayose-a-grassroot-politician-shehu-sani/