SOKOTO: Gov. Aliyu Righting The Wrongs Of PDPPDP
By Sani Kabiru
It’s outwardly noticeable that the Sokoto state chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are still floundering in the mud of the defeat they suffered in the hands of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections. In fact, the bitter truth is that it’s rather sickening and regrettable for the PDP to watch the incumbent Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto administration do in less than two years what they couldn’t do in eight years. The PDP government was, as a matter of fact, locust ravaging that left the state in hopelessness. The state’s coffers were recklessly drained without any positive impact for the citizenry who were left holding the short end of the stick.
It’s trite to state to that opposition is an integral part of democracy and all games are played according to their laid-down rules to enjoy sanity and fair play. Unfortunately, instead of the opposition and the adversaries of Governor Aliyu to bury their heads in shame, they’ve resorted to deploy all sorts of shenanigans and manipulations to smear the reputation of the governor. But they fail to realise that In the age of rapid evolution in the new media, particularly artificial intelligence and deepfake, no amount of propaganda will make the people of Sokoto state who voted out the PDP, to deny the fact that Governor Aliyu is taking the state out of the deep mess the Aminu Waziri Tambuwal government plunged it into.
In fact, great men and women are always silent in changing the fortunes of their people, negating the most expected media hype; and that’s what Governor Aliyu is doing. Today, no one will tell you that throughout the eight years of the PDP administration, pension wasn’t paid even once. Hence, Governor Aliyu inherited a huge backlog but armed with the keenness to move the state forward from its inertia and developmental torpor, he’s now paying over N500 million from the accrued debt and N300 million for fresh retirees in the state monthly.
Often described as the engine of governance, Governor Aliyu has revitalised the civil service. 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 highly motivated and productive civil service, essential for the effective delivery of public services. It was a surprise and jolly when he paid a month’s salary as bonus.
Also, while his predecessor has a worrying history of globetrotting and telegoverning the state from Abuja, here’s a governor who hardly travels out of Sokoto. In close to two years of his stewardship, he has traveled out of the country only twice – to hajj and his son’s graduation. For Governor Aliyu, prudence is the watchword. And these are verifiable facts, not the social media’s mischievous tendencies aimed at weakening his bond with the electorate in a desperate move to denigrate his rising popularity.
In just a little more than one year, Governor Aliyu has accomplished substantial milestones. He has delivered more dividends of democracy compared to Tambuwal’s eight years of misrule. Governor Aliyu is transforming Sokoto’s infrastructure, education, health, and the 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 within 24 hours—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. This led to a significant reduction in the number of water vendors, thereby improving the lives of ordinary Sokoto residents.
From water supply, the Aliyu 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 a conducive learning environment. This focus on education is a continuation of the Governor Aliyu Wamakko administation’s legacy, which placed premium on human capital development. This dedication has also culminated in the payment of outstanding debts in tertiary institutions, preventing students from missing their examinations due to unpaid tuition fees.
The Aliyu administration has also prioritised infrastructure and security. This has headlined the rollout of new buses for intra- and inter-city services as well as taxis for the metropolitan. Major roads in urban areas, like Sahara and Gawon Nama, have been reconstructed. These projects have transformed Sokoto’s cityscape into a picturesque, giving it a new glow, particularly with solar-powered lights lining the streets.
On security, Governor Aliyu has made, perhaps, the biggest impact since insecurity took firm roots in the North-west zone. 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, Dr. 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 has been hailed as a deliberate effort to partner the federal government’s renewed offensive against bandits and other non-state actors in the North-west. And with Sokoto serving as the staging ground, it further demonstrates the administration’s commitment to the safety of 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 for health, Dr Aliyu had, within two weeks of taking office, visited the Sokoto Specialist Hospital where he was, understandably, appalled by its deplorable state. Accordingly, he immediately set in motion remedial measures to bring the hospital back to standard. These included the restoration of the hospital’s cash allocation and the provision of a standby generator to ensure steady power supply. Today, the hospital operates at a level befitting of its status as the state’s largest healthcare facility.
Yet, it’s Governor Aliyu’s model of compassionate leadership that endeared him to the good 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 towards the poor and vulnerable. In this light, monthly allowances for disabled persons, which were suspended by the Tambuwal administration, have been restored. And, in recognition of the roles they play in institutionalising morality and shepherding 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 secure their livelihoods. The governor’s visit to the state’s 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 Sokoto and Gombe states as having the highest rates of food inflation. Besides the government’s recent decision to sell rice to households at 50% discount, a decision that predates the data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), other policies specifically designed to arrest this trend have been implemented and will soon start bearing fruits.
It’s, therefore, pertinent to remind the PDP that Governor Aliyu will never be distracted by the antics as this is a time for governance, not politicking. Recall that in the 2019 governorship election, despite the PDP’s incumbency factor, Senator 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 skills. By 2023, with Tambuwal out of the picture, Wamakko’s disciple, Dr 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 Aliyu and Senator 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 of 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 developmental strides.
Kabiru writes from Sokoto, Sokoto state
