APC AND SOKOTO STATE’S SCANDALOUS ERA

The All Progressives Congress in Sokoto State has recently displayed the same sense of denial of their party’s dismal failure as a party in power and the lack of compassion for the extreme hardship that their bad governance has plunged the masses of Nigeria.

This insensitivity that has become the character of APC from national to ward level, was rudely exhibited by the recent press conference of the state’s Chairman of that party, Isah Sadik Acida.

IT CONTAINED IN A  PRESS STATEMENT BY THE SOKOTO STATE CHAIRMAN OF THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) HON BELLO ALIYU GORONYO MADE AVAILABLE TO NEWS MEN REVEALED THAT

In that briefing the APC indicted all the past Governors of Sokoto State (military and civilian alike), of not being proactive and progressive and of not achieving anything, except the current Governor, Ahmed Aliyu and his godfather, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. As far as APC are concerned, from Northwestern State in 1967 to Sokoto State in 2007, no other Governor is worthy of credit for developing the state.

First of all,, “People’s Democratic Party therefore wishes to on behalf of the good people of Sokoto State, dis asociate themselves from this irresponsible and uncharitable opinion of the state APC and hereby, acknowledge the meritorious service and contributions of our past Chiefs Executive in laying the foundation for the transformation of our dear state over the years to what it has become today.

It is this belligerent malicious style of governance of the APC at all levels that has led to all the socio- economic crises that our nation has been plunged into since the inception of APC rule in Nigeria in 2015 and the APC regime in Sokoto State for the past two years.

It is ironic that the ruling party of a state that is facing worsening poverty, insecurity and acute lack of the basic amenities of life, like clean water even in the state capital, is turning a blind eye to the dire situation of its masses and laying false claims to any achievement.

The predicament of Sokoto State is being stuck with a clueless administration, whose only focus is the demolition of business premises all over the state and replacing them with roundabouts that are being renovated at billions of Naira from the tax-payers money.

This is happening, while the poverty index of Sokoto State is the highest in Nigeria and rate of unemployment is incomparable to that of any state in the country.

The APC in Sokoto has made matters more bleak by withdrawing the employment of over 3000 teachers and health workers, even as the state is experiencing the most scarcity of personnel in the education and health sectors.

It is not surprising therefore, that a number of development partners have withdrawn their funding from the state, due to this negative attitude of the present government and also because of the scandalous diversion of aid materials by senior officials of the administration.

While the APC regime of Ahmed Aliyu is preoccupied with cosmetics and outrageously costed projects within the state capital, the rural areas have been completely neglected, in spite of the billions of Naira of their federal allocation that is being stashed in the state coffers.

 With the harsh impacts of the central government of the APC taking their toll on the people, the masses in Sokoto State are being suffocated by poverty, due to this incompetent and insensitive type of leadership.

The APC has made a false and irresponsible claim that the previous PDP government had achieved nothing on security.

The ruling party is however, well-advised to verify their claim by checking the records from the security agencies, for present administration under Ahmed Aliyu to have a cleared picture about logistics  and infrastructural support that the PDP administration had provided to the fight against banditry and other crimes in the state.

Nevertheless, it is widely known in the state that Ahmed Aliyu has never cared to console communities that suffer bandits attacks, much less offer them any concrete relief.

Thus, the people of Sokoto State, especially the inhabitants of Sokoto East Zone cannot be fooled by the lies of the APC on security.

The masses, who have indeed, experienced the most fatal incidents of insecurity during the current government cannot be deceived by false claims. Inhabitants of areas worst hit by banditry can judge which government has exhibited concern for their plight and commitment to solving their problems.

In the meantime, the so-called State Community Guards created by the APC government have only served as the terror squads of the regime against innocent citizens, who dare to express their opinion on the mis-governance of the state.

 There are in fact, hundreds of those helpless victims of state repression, many among them underaged, still being persecuted or languishing in incarceration for daring for appeal to Ahmed Aliyu for the protection of their lives and property.

Just like its mother at the centre, the APC regime in Sokoto State has no inkling of responsibility to the people in its actions or conduct, which is clearly reflected in its complete lack of transparency and accountability.

While white elephant projects are wantonly being awarded without respect for due process, other procurements are carried out in spite of lawful procedure.

This is verified by the damning 2024 report on Sokoto State by the World Bank’s State of States Agency.

This is the true state of affairs in Sokoto State, which incidentally, the entire nation is aware of.

Within the last two years, we have indeed, drawn national and global reckoning as the most scandalous state in Nigeria in terms of governance, with our Governor being the object of nationwide ridicule. And that is courtesy of the APC regime in Sokoto State.

The present administration should check the Goverenment records and if they don’t have, is better for them to ask security agencies in the state in order for them to get records of what the past Government did to better the security system in Sokoto state.