By Yakubu Mohammed
The relentless and underhanded campaign being waged by the the Peoples Democratic Party (PD) in Sokoto state through Shafi’u Umar Tureta and others against Governor Ahmed Aliyu is nothing short of a proxy war orchestrated by former Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. Tureta, a so-called “activist,” is, in reality, nothing more than a political lackey of Tambuwal, driven by a mission to destabilise the Sokoto state government and undermine the remarkable strides Governor Ahmed Aliyu is making.
It is imperative to debunk the lie perpetuated by Amnesty International (AI) and the opposition PDP that Tureta is an activist. In fact, before now, Shafi’u, just like other people living in Tureta, a village along Sokoto — Gusau road, was a mere village boy struggling in his farm to feed. Therefore, this label of being an activist has been shamelessly hijacked by those who engage in reckless and unfounded attacks, hoping to shield themselves under the guise of advocacy when they are held accountable.
How does a struggling farmer, whose village has always been under bandits’ attack, become an “activist” overnight? Tureta’s Facebook page (if really it belongs to him) reveals his true colours: a village political operative working to further Tambuwal’s ambitions for 2027, a man determined to topple the man who dared challenge him in the 2019 and 2023 elections and emerged victorious.
Tureta’s attempts to sully Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s name, particularly in his posts, are blatant provocations aimed at sowing discord and eroding public trust in the government. For instance, his baseless criticisms of the governor’s initiative to purchase 300 trucks of rice, to be sold at 50 per cent discount to the people of Sokoto state, are nothing but desperate lies. Tureta conveniently omits the fact that unlike Tambuwal, Governor Ahmed Aliyu didn’t burden the state with loans for this project and that the rice is being sold at a significant loss to alleviate the suffering of Sokoto’s poor.
More infuriating is Tureta’s silence on the monumental failures of his mentor, Tambuwal, whose administration left behind a legacy of debt, unpaid salaries, and dilapidated infrastructure. However, Tureta cannot be blamed for his ignorance as a village farmer who is being used for a political purpose. Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s prudent management, in contrast, is a thorn in the flesh of the PDP, which finds itself increasingly irrelevant as the governor delivers where Tambuwal failed.
Again, the attack on the government’s recent amendment to the Local Government Law of 2009 is yet another example of blind allegiance to a failed past. The amendment, which Tambuwal and his fellow agents of destabilisation decry, was a necessary step to align the law with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and improve governance. Yet, these shameless critics would rather distort the truth than acknowledge progress.
The Governor Ahmed Aliyu administration has shown time and again that it is committed to the rule of law and good governance, in stark contrast to the lawlessness of the Tambuwal era. The governor’s refusal to retaliate against Tureta’s provocations through extrajudicial means is a testament to his respect for due process. Tureta was rightly charged in court after thorough investigations by the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that he had circulated injurious falsehoods. The law will take its course, and Tureta will have to face the consequences of his actions.
Tambuwal’s refusal to provide a handover note to Governor Ahmed Aliyu after allegedly leaving behind an empty treasury with over N14 billion in unpaid gratuities and over N195 billion from sales of government assets are perhaps the most glaring examples of his callous disregard for the people of Sokoto state. In contrast, Governor Ahmed Aliyu has demonstrated compassion by beginning the process of clearing these debts, with a commitment to pay N500 million monthly to retirees who have been left in the lurch for years.
It’s clear that Tureta’s antics are part of a broader strategy by Tambuwal to distract from his own failures. But no amount of propaganda can change the fact that Governor Ahmed Aliyu is delivering where Tambuwal failed. The people of Sokoto state will not be swayed by the lies of a disgruntled former governor and his minions. Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s performance in office is the ultimate rebuke to Tambuwal’s failed leadership. The people are watching, and they know who truly has their interests at heart.
Tambuwal’s desperate attempts to sabotage Governor Ahmed Aliyu will only backfire, as the people of Sokoto state have seen through the facade. They understand that the Governor Ahmed Aliyu administration is one of integrity, progress, and genuine concern for their welfare. No amount of deceit or manipulation can tarnish the achievements of a leader who has dedicated himself to uplifting Sokoto state from the depths of mismanagement left by his predecessor.
The truth is on the side of Governor Ahmed Aliyu and that truth will continue to shine, no matter how dark the shadow of Tambuwal’s schemes may be.
The whole drama lies in performance. With just a little over one year in office, the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration under the able leadership of a young, dynamic and progressive governor has positively changed the narratives by achieving what Tambuwal spent eight years and couldn’t do.
Within one year, education, health, agriculture and social investments have improved tremendously and this is why Tambuwal and his PDP co-travelers are very angry; simply because Sokoto state is working again.
Mohammed 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
