By Emmanuel Ado
“Sometimes it is entirely appropriate to kill a fly with a sledgehammer!” – Maj. Holdredge
When Isa Sadiq Acida, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), decided to kill a fly, in this case the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sokoto state chapter, with a sledge hammer, it was deliberate and targeted at not just the PDP, but also other flies – opposition elements – that might be tempted to thread the dangerous path of the PDP that has made making wild allegations a way of life.
Acida, in his world press conference entitled “Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto: A Worthy Ambassador of the APC”, achieved a three-in-one strategic objective. First, he proudly showcased the achievements of its worthy ambassador, Governor Ahmed Aliyu. He also succeeded in putting the opposition on notice that the APC would no longer tolerate unwarranted and unsubstantiated accusations against Aliyu administration. And lastly, Acida flaunted the readiness of the APC in Sokoto state for the 2027 general elections.
Going by the swift reaction of the APC to his latest campaign of misinformation, and outright lies against Governor Aliyu, his administration and family, the PDP state chairman, Alhaji Bello Aliyu Goronyo, would definitely be full of regrets because he got more than he bargained for: a strong rebuttal through showcasing the achievements of Governor Aliyu who, in less than two years, has achieved what the PDP-led Aminu Tambuwal administration couldn’t achieve in eight years.
Since Governor Aliyu defeated Saidu Umar, the PDP governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, the party had declared a full scale war without boundaries on him. And the politically smart governor, seeing through their devilish plot to distract him and for him to end up in their ignoble boat, refused all entreaties by his supporters to return fire for fire. But, with the 2027 elections already in top gear, the APC has rightly decided to counter with facts the PDP strategy of continuous campaign of misinformation.
Thankfully, unlike PDP’s Tambuwal, the APC ambassador, Governor Aliyu, has numerous projects in every sector to showcase. Acida said: “We advise our political opponents to borrow a leaf from us and tell the people how they spent our commonwealth while in office, otherwise they should stop rushing to the press to ridicule themselves with unsubstantiated claims that cannot stand a litmus test”.
What are the facts? Contrary to the warped narrative of the opposition PDP, Governor Aliyu has transparently and prudently managed the resources of Sokoto state, the reason he has been able to pay salaries, pensions, complete over 250 positively impactful projects and counting. He also liquidated the loans obtained by Tambuwal in less than two years!
It’s a fact that Governor Aliyu has completed all projects that Tambuwal inherited or started but later abandoned. They include the housing estates, the Independent Power project, the 40 million per day water project, and several roads, including the Rijiya flyover bridge, the only major project that Tambuwal initiated in his eight wasted years as governor and which in his typical nature he also abandoned.
The national newspapers have a duty to institute an award for the likes of Tambuwal whose notoriety for abandoned projects is legendary.
In the housing sector, the stark difference between Governor Aliyu and his predecessor is crystal clear. While Tambuwal sold off all government houses, proceeds of which he couldn’t account for, Dr Aliyu has built a total of 1136 houses, made up of 500 at Gidan Salanke, 500 at Wajake, Wamakko local government areas, and purchased 136 housing units from the Federal Housing Authority.
It is a fact that the Aliyu administration has constructed a network of roads in Sahara Area, at Gawon-Nama area, Ramen-Kura around the Abattoir, Koko Road, Saint Paul Primary School, and the J Allen areas. Another network of roads is being constructed at New Arkilla, Mabera as well as Tudunwada. Others are the Zamfara, Zungeru and Shinkafi roads near the Government House. On the whole, about 48 roads are currently under construction.
If the PDP isn’t shameless, it wouldn’t have stirred the hornet’s nest, because there is so much difference between Governor Aliyu and their own failed Tambuwal. It ought to have known that the difference between Governor Aliyu and his predecessor goes beyond Tambuwal seeing the governorship position only as a stepping stone to the presidency, which he attempted unsuccessfully in 2019 and 2023. It is widely believed that Tambuwal had no resources to run the state because of his presidential ambition. In aviation circles, Tambuwal was considered a “gold customer” due to his penchant for hiring private jets in search of delegates.
So, if the governor or the local government chairmen are allegedly squandering resources, how have they been able to fund the myriads of projects they have so far executed without ever borrowing a kobo from the banks?
It’s a fact that long before May 29, 2023, residents of Sokoto metropolis had no access to pipe borne water because the Sokoto State Water Corporation, heavily indebted to Kaduna Power Company, was disconnected and had no electricity to pump water. Mountains of refuse defaced the landscape, oozing putrefying odour. Salaries were paid well into the next month, which demoralised the public servants. Not even pensioners that gave their youth to the state were spared the agony of governance failure. It’s a fact that Governor Aliyu resolved all these problems within his first 100 days in office.
By 2023, Tambuwal left a liability of over N14 billion in pensions and questionable bank loans, with many assets of the state at risk of being confiscated by banks. Again, Governor Aliyu changed the narrative within a few months in office. He has drastically reduced all liabilities, especially pensions, and made provisions for new retirees, again, without borrowing.
The question for the PDP is, how did the government fund the construction of these roads if it had, indeed, squandered the resources of the state? Some of the roads that have been constructed in the 23 local government areas include the Gudun – Tandamare – Rijiya road (6.3 km), Romo – Kaya – Barga road (4.25 km), both in Tambuwal LGA; Dandin Mahe – Mabera road in Shagari LGA (2.9 km), the Ehra – Ruggar Mallam road (6 km) and Ginga Junction – Horo Birni road (3.1 km) both in Shagari LGA; Kilgori – Kwaidaza road (2.2 km) and Magacci Main Road – Ruggar Kiju (3.1 km) and Bingaje – Dono road in Yabo LGA (2.6 km) all in Yabo Local Government; Yar Jakuru – Kafar Sanyi road in Bodinga LGA, Wababe Junction – Fajaldu – Illela – Gusau Main Road in Dange Shuni LGA (3.15 km), Shuni Main Road – Gidan Danga – Makere – Dabagi – Tudun Salaru – Girgiri – Sanda Kuwana – Kulalu – Milgoma road, Wamakko Main Road – Wajeke road (1.3 km),Giniga – Yarkanta – Gidan Kawuri – Yarlabe road in Wamakko local Government; Western Bypass Main Road – Makabarta – Kurfi road (2.3 km) in Kware local Government; Telande – Hamma Ali Town (6.2 km) in Kware local, More Main Road – Jumu’at Mosque – Buddau Town in Kware LGA (2.35 km), Gadar Maruda – Galadanchi – Gidan Gero Town in Kware LGA (3.3 km), Lambar Gwaddodi – Gwaddodi Town in Rabah LGA (1.5 km),Lambar Kundus – Kundus Town in Rabah LGA (1.95 km),Lambar Gidan Buwai – Gidan Buwai Town in Rabah LGA (1.8 km),Tangaza – Ruggar Ruwa Town in Tangaza LGA (1.5 km), Tangaza – Zabarmawar Yahaya Town in Tangaza LGA (3.6 km),Gidan Maidebe – Kabawa town in Binji LGA (2.6 km),Binji – Inname road in Binji LGA (5.9 km)and the Dingyadi Main Road – Rumbuki town in Bod.
A government that’s squandering resources won’t also be constructing the following roads:- The Tangaza- Balle road, the Illela- Gada Road, the Romon Sarki-Romon Liman Road, the Margai-Kebbe segment of Tambuwal-Kebbe Road, the Wurno-Huchi road and the road from Silame Police Station to Silame Bridge, and the Sokoto State segment of the Sokoto -Gummi Road, which is a federal highway.
Another area that Governor Aliyu has written his name in gold is in the security sector. It must be noted that though security is exclusively that of the federal government, this has not stopped the governor from strengthening the security agencies towards tackling the security challenges affecting some local government areas, particularly the Eastern Senatorial District.
To date, the governor has procured and distributed over 140 patrol vehicles to security agencies to boost their mobility and response capabilities. He also established the Community Guards Corps, and equipped them with essential operational tools and logistics to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies. The 2,600 Guards Corps members have been equipped with 30 units of Hilux Vehicles 2022 model, with full insurance cover and 800 motorcycles to ease mobility of the Community Guards Corps personnel.
The state government also built, equipped and furnished operational offices for the Community Guards Corps in all the 13 local government areas seriously affected by insecurity in the state. The Community Guards are fully armed for the execution of their assigned duties. Without doubt, these efforts have yielded significant results, with security personnel recording major successes in tackling all sorts of criminal activities.
The achievements of Governor Aliyu in education, agriculture and health are too numerous to mention. In education, the governor continues to make huge investment. In the last two years he has surpassed the UNESCO recommendations. In the 2025 budget, education got the lion’s share of the N526.88 billion allocation, a clear statement of Governor Aliyu’s commitment beyond intentions because he fully understands the importance of education as the bedrock of development. Schools have been renovated and new classes constructed which has led to a significant increase in enrollment of pupils and drastic reduction in the number of out-of-school children. His scholarship scheme has also enabled students to pursue higher education, both within and outside the country.
Governor Aliyu’s agriculture policy thrust is the massive production of food which would improve the living standard of the people and supply raw materials for the agro-allied industries. The governor has provided farmers with fertilisers, improved seedlings, and modern farming equipment. If Governor Aliyu succeeds in his agricultural development initiative, not only will Sokoto state farmers earn better income, they will also save Nigeria huge foreign exchange spent importing food.
The problem with the opposition PDP relics is that they are yet to recover from the political punches clinically delivered by Governor Aliyu, culminating in their humiliating defeat. In their flip-flop and confused effort to stage a comeback in 2027, they have chosen the shameful path of demonising an administration that is hugely popular. So, if the PDP is not accusing the government of concentrating development in Sokoto metropolis, it is accusing it of squandering resources. The allegations just don’t add up and the APC deserves commendation for refuting the allegations with facts.
Because the PDP allegations are frivolous, they have continued to shoot blank. And beyond generating headlines, the PDP hasn’t landed a punch where it matters – with the people. But if left unchallenged, the possibility of their dirt sticking cannot be dismissed, hence the need for the APC to frontally and continuously refute these lies from the pit of hell.
Ado writes from Kaduna
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Sky Daily
