- By Sani Kabiru
Sokoto State chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is still floundering in the mud of the defeat it suffered in the hands of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC during the 2023 general election. In fact, watching the present administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto do in less than two years, what the party couldn’t do in their eight years of locust ravaging regime that left the state wallowing in dire hopelessness while the state’s coffers was mercilessly drained without any positive impact for the citizenries who were left holding the short end of the stick, must be deeply hurting.
No doubt, the opposition is an integral part of the democracy hence all games are expected to be played according to laid-down rules to enjoy sanity and fair play. Instead the opposition has resorted to deploying all sorts of shenanigans and mind manipulation to hoodwink the gullible and taint the image of the governor in the eyes of the public. In the age of rapid evolution in the new media, particularly artificial intelligence and deep-fakes, it is clear that no amount of propaganda will make the people of Sokoto State who voted out the PDP easily forget the history or deny the fact that Governor Aliyu is taking the state out of the woods.
Today, it is common knowledge that throughout the eight years of the PDP administration, pension wasn’t paid even once. Yet, Governor Aliyu who inherited the huge backlog has paid over N500 million out of the accrued debt and N300 million for fresh retirees in the state monthly.
Governor Aliyu has revitalized the civil service, and today, salaries are now paid on time, cash allocations to ministries have been restored, and allowances previously suspended under the PDP have been reintroduced. The result is a motivated and productive civil service, essential for the effective delivery of public services. It came as a surprise to many when he paid a month’s salary as a bonus.
Also, while his predecessor has a worrying history of globetrotting and tele-governing the state from Abuja, here’s a governor who hardly travels out of Sokoto and in close to two years of his stewardship, he travelled out of the country only twice, to Hajj and his son’s graduation. To him, prudence is the watchword, and these are verifiable facts, not the social media’s mischievous tendencies aimed at weakening his bond with the electorates in a desperate move to denigrate his intimidating popularity.
In just a little more than one year, Governor Aliyu who has accomplished substantial milestones, delivered more dividends of democracy compared to Aminu Tambuwal’s eight years of misrule, transforming Sokoto’s infrastructure, education, health, and civil service. There’s a saying that water is life! His swift action in addressing Sokoto’s water crisis—ensuring that taps that had run dry for eight years were restored —demonstrates his commitment to reversing PDP’s failures. A pivotal moment in the administration’s resolve was the state of emergency declared on water supply, with 50 additional boreholes supplementing the state water board’s efforts, leading to a significant reduction in the number of water vendors, thereby improving the lives of ordinary Sokoto residents.
From the water supply, Aliyu’s administration moved rapidly to make enormous strides in education. In a little over a year, over 45 schools have been renovated and equipped with modern facilities to provide conducive learning environment. This focus on education is a continuation of Wamakko’s legacy, as he had always placed a premium on human capital development during his time as governor. This dedication has also culminated in the payment of outstanding debts in tertiary institutions, preventing students from missing their exams due to unpaid tuition fees.
Governor Aliyu’s administration has also placed a strong emphasis on infrastructure and security. This has been headlined in the rollout of new buses for intra- and inter-city services and taxis for the metropolitan area, while major roads in urban areas like the Sahara and Gawon Nama have been reconstructed. These projects have transformed Sokoto’s cityscape into a picturesque place, giving it a new glow, particularly with solar-powered lights lining the streets.
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On the security front, Governor Aliyu has made perhaps, the biggest impact since insecurity took firm roots in the northwest. He’s deploying proactive strategies by providing the necessary tools to combat crime, especially kidnapping and banditry. Military-grade vehicles, including Buffalo trucks and Toyota Hilux, have been commissioned for use by security forces. Recently, Governor Aliyu, joined by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, donated 10 operational vehicles to the military. These efforts have significantly bolstered the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and other criminal activities in Sokoto. This move which has been hailed as deliberate effort to partner the federal government’s renewed offensive against bandits and other non-state actors in the Northwest, with Sokoto serving as the staging ground further demonstrates the administration’s commitment to the safety of its citizens.
Health is wealth they say. Well, Governor Aliyu has taken that statement quite seriously by attacking the problems of the state’s healthcare sector with vigour. A former commissioner of health, Governor Aliyu had, within two weeks of taking office, visited the Sokoto Specialist Hospital where he was understandably appalled by the deplorable conditions he met. Accordingly, he immediately set in motion remedial measures to bring the hospital back to standard and these include the restoration of the hospital’s cash allocation and the provision of a standby generator to ensure consistent power supply. Today, the hospital operates at a level befitting its status as the state’s largest healthcare facility.
Yet, it’s Governor Aliyu’s model of compassionate leadership that endeared him to the people of Sokoto. All the governor’s policies have been deliberately formulated with a human face, ensuring that all government’s actions are guided by compassion toward the vulnerable populations. In this light, monthly allowances for disabled persons, which had been suspended by the previous PDP administration, have been reinstated. And, in recognition of the roles they play in institutionalising morality and playing the important roles of guiding the people, Imams and their deputies are now on the government’s payroll. This move was to create a sense of financial security for the clerics in a bid to ensure that their livelihoods are secure. The governor’s visit to the state orphanage, where he directed immediate improvements in living conditions and donated vehicles, further highlights his commitment to the welfare of Sokoto’s most vulnerable citizens.
In his proactive manner, Governor Aliyu had envisioned the recent bleak statistics that placed the state and Gombe as having the highest rates of food inflation. Besides the government’s recent decision to sell rice to households at 50% less than the market price, a decision that predates the National Bureau of Statistics’ recently released data, other policies specifically designed to arrest this trend have been implemented and will soon start bearing fruits.
It’s pertinent to remind the PDP that Governor Aliyu will never be distracted by the antics as this is a time for governance, not politics. Recall that in the 2019 governorship election, despite the PDP’s incumbency advantage, Sen. Wamakko’s political structure nearly ousted Tambuwal, who won by a razor-thin margin of 342 votes. This near miss was a testament to Wamakko’s enduring popularity and political skill. By 2023, with Tambuwal out of the picture, Wamakko’s disciple Governor Aliyu, won the governorship with a decisive margin, cementing Wamakko’s status as the undisputed leader of Sokoto politics.
Certainly, the enduring partnership between Governor Ahmed Aliyu and Senator Aliyu Wamakko is ushering in a new era of development for Sokoto state. Together, they are undoing the damage wrought by the PDP’s eight dark years and setting Sokoto on a path toward prosperity. With a renewed focus on repositioning every sector of Sokoto State, the APC-led administration is delivering tangible benefits to the people, proving that leadership is about impact, not tenure. As the people of Sokoto continue to reap the rewards of this partnership, one thing is clear: Senator Wamakko’s political legacy is secure, and the people can only hope that Governor Aliyu builds on that foundation to continue with his bold strides toward development.
- Kabiru writes from Sokoto.
