Time, they say is the determiner of all things. How time fl ies like the crow. Like the blink of an eye, is already appraisal of politicians in two years. May 29, is another stock taking era for politicians and before we could blink the eyes, they are back on the podium for yet another marathon of lies, deceit and craftiness to persuade Nigerians to either return or sack them. Th e beauty of democracy is that it is the ballot that speaks so those who want peoples’ votes should give them a listening ear because one votes counts a lot.
For the people of Sokoto state, the bond of friendship between them and our governor has left a big question mark in the last two years. In the last two years of the APC administration in Sokoto state, we cannot shy away from saying there is the good, the bad and the ugly but whichever way you measure the good, bad and the ugly depends on your perception of governance. Governance is providing the basic needed social and economic amenities and above all protecting the governed when Nigerians voted for a change two years ago, they had so many expectations form the APC administration both at the federal and state levels, before the 2015 general elections, the mood all over the north was Chanji, change. Blueprint reporter went town to seek peoples’ views and how they rate the government of Barr. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in the last two years, in directing the aff airs of Sokoto state.
Th e reactions of people were mixed. Some see the government of Tambuwal as the worst government ever in Sokoto on account of bad leadership style and approach to governance, while others rate the government high in view of its numerous projects and policies executed for the development of the state taken cognizance the current economic recession in the country. Speaking to Blueprint, chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Sokoto state chapter, Alhaji Usman Dan Madamin Isa, boasted to that the APC -led administration in Sokoto has been so far, so good. ‘’To start with, the governor has promised to sustain all the laudable legacies of his elder brother and predecessor, Senator.
Aliyu Magatakradan Wamakko. He had also vowed to build on Wamakko’s sterling legacies. Th is, he has been doing glaringly. For instance, governor Tambuwal has been giving the state Zakkat and Endowment Committee over N90 m monthly for its activities, aimed at improving the living standard of the indigents including the aged, orphans, physically-challenged persons and In and out patients. “Th e Zakkat Committee is now upgraded from a committee to a full-pledged Commission.
Th e indigents in the state cannot have a better and fair deal than this. Th e governor had also recently signed the Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHDA) Bill into law, thus PHC had been blossomed and brought under one roof in the state. Th is is legendary and remarkable. PHC is now strengthened in the state with this commendable and singular feat by the everdexterous governor. Th e state government in partnership with development partners had also distributed assorted drugs and medicament worth billions of naira to the 23 local government of the state.’’ Isa also claimed that his party has despite the recession in the country, been able to bring succour to the people and moved the state forward. His words: ‘’We must commend Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state government for constant payment of salaries to civil servants unlike PDP ruling states who despite 13 % derivation accrue to them, they Tambuwal: Caliphate state governor’s scorecard Tambuwal The government had during the period under review, supported over 33,000 people through promotion of improved crop production techniques cannot pay workers’ salaries when and due. My governor also has an excellent rating who despite the recession been able to pay billions of Naira gratuities and pension arrears to the state and local government civil servants, in addition to prompt payment of salaries. Th e governor , has recently paid N 2, 641, 341,64 to 1901 retired civil servants covering lives, death and contract gratuity and pension arrears that accumulated from 2011 to August 2015. Similarly the governor paid another N 1, 234, 069 339.00 to 567 retirees and verifi cation of those who retired from 2015 to date is ongoing. Th is was done at a time other states are fi nding it diffi cult to off set salaries even with federal government bailout.
Th e APC administration has scored another mark by obtaining a soft loan for civil savants and house renovation loan, recently. ‘’Th e governor revolutionized agriculture sector, launched acceleration of Wheat production brought in a Nigerian business mogul Aliko Dangote to invest in 25,000 hectors rice production. ‘’Ceaseless public lamentations of the backwardness of the state education wise, coupled with the irritation decay of the sector led to his declaration of state of emergency on the education sector.’’ Says the ruling party chairman. Also reacting, the chairman, Sokoto state Traders Association, Alhaji Yaro Gobirawa, said Tambuwal’s administration should be commended for its eff orts to launch the state vital areas of socio-economy.
Th e environment is another landmark with the monthly sanitation exercise. In fact, when I went through the list of projects this administration has lined up for execution and those inherited and still vowed to complete. I doff ed my hat for the Tambuwal administration. Also commenting on the Tambuwal score card, a Sokoto based business mogul and Sardanan Matasan Sokoto, Alhaji Mujitaba Helele, said the giant stride recorded by Tambuwal cannot over estimate. ‘’His intimidating performance has killed opposition in Sokoto, the impact of his administration was felt even by the opposition that’s why we don’t have opposition in Sokoto. No doubt, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has been able to weather the storm and confi dently stay afl oat piloting the ship of Sokoto state.
It is clear that, Sokoto state under Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is moving to a statue of Eldorado. In the past 24 months in offi ce, Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has given top priority to fi scal stability, economic growth, environmental sustainability, education and re-jiggering of the state public service. Th e government had during the period under review, supported over 33,000 people through promotion of improved crop production techniques, para-veterinary clinics and women and youth off -farm activities. It is also clear to say that the APCled government under the able leadership of governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had in the last two years created job opportunities to over By SIDI A. UMAR, SOKOTO DEMOCRACY DAY 25, 000 people through community-based agriculture and rural development initiatives in diff erent interventions on sustainable agriculture, community infrastructure, rural enterprise development. Reacting to the APC two years in offi ce, a PDP chieftain, Alhaji Umaru MT Riskuwa, described the APC government as a monumental failure and worst thing ever happened to people of Sokoto state. “Poverty, hunger unemployment, starvation have become topics of discourse in Sokoto”. Riskuwa said. “Th e government lack focus and direction and bereft of what the art of governance is all about”. He added. His words ‘’ Two years of the APC led government is the worst thing ever happen to people of Sokoto state, the government have no direction, they lost focus and they are bereft of ideas. Look at his state of emergency on education almost eighteen months after launching, there is nothing to show. Children are still taking lesson on bare fl oor some schools are without roofi ng or.
Th ere are no instructional materials and to cap it all teachers have been neglected do not receive their salary until another month enters”. On agriculture, he said “there was no seriousness because all the loans the government claimed to have been given to farmers did not reach them on time. Th ere was no motivation, farmers have been left to their eff ort to get fertilizer, All the consignments goes to top APC members instead of the actual farmers. Th e governor has become a transient governor, he hardly stay in Sokoto for a good one week. So, how do you expect the dividend of democracy under a governor who abandoned his duty area only to be governing the state from elsewhere? So the two years of APC ruling Sokoto is a monumental failure , they have failed, woefully failed I am sure people of Sokoto have regretted voting APC in 2015, thus, they will sack it comes 2019”. It is the worry of everyone in Sokoto that the always “missing in action” so how will he know the problems of Sokoto people.
