The people of Sokoto state have heaved a sigh of relief now that the highest court in the land has echoed their will. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had asked the Supreme Court to set aside the concurrent judgements of the Court of Appeal and the tribunal at the Supreme Court. But the Supreme Court, on Thursday, affirmed the election of Ahmed Aliyu as the validly elected governor of Sokoto stat, in the March 2023 Sokoto state governorship poll. The apex court dismissed the appeal of his closest rival, Saidu Umar, of the PDP.
The Supreme Court ruling is a cause for all well-meaning individuals in Sokoto state to celebrate because even after the election tribunal and Appeal Court had affirmed that Aliyu was duly elected as laid down by law, Umar was still bent on pulling down the edifice the people had built.
In the March 18 governorship election,
Aliyu polled 453,661 votes to defeat Umar, who polled 404,632 votes.
With no valid evidence to void Aliyu’s election, his traducers resulted to blackmail, claiming that Aliyu and his deputy were not eligible to contest the election, that their certificates were fake
.
Fortunately, the facts before the justices could not pervert the course of justice.
Aliyu, a man of honesty and integrity,
deserves our collective commendation, considering the number of projects he has executed with limited available resources within one hundred days in office.
In view of the significant landmarks so far recorded in his administration in steering the affairs of the state, the governor deserves more commendation and support of Sokoto people, irrespective of political divide. During his short stewardship in office, particularly less than half a year, more than 50 kilometres of roads were rehabilitated within the metropolis.
Tens of kilometres of rural roads have also been renovated and a lot more works are ongoing in the area of water supply. Above 600 boreholes were sunk and renovated to restore adequate water supply within Sokoto state and environs.
Schools, both elementary and tertiary, were also renovated and fully furnished by the young administration of Governor Aliyu to enhance teaching and learning in the state.
All these developmental projects are being financed without any kobo owed by the Sokoto state government. This accounts for his prudence and incorruptibility.
Just as it is the belief that Aliyu is a Godsend to the political landscape of the Seat of the Caliphate, he was able to purchase tones of millet, rice and other grains which his government distributed to the people at zero cost across the 23 local government areas in order to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal.
In his humanity, all classes of people are not left untouched. Thus a set of over 30 Toyota Camry 2022 and 40 18-seater buses were procured and launched for women and other citizens to ease transportation in and outside the state.
Knowing that security of life and property is a prerequisite for growth and development, Aliyu also procured another set of hundreds of Toyota Hilux trucks which he gave to security operatives to enhance their operations.
He has also procured over 100,000 bags of fertiliser for distribution free to farmers in the state.
Going by his antecedents, we have confidence in the ability, commitments and sincerity of the governor to perform creditably and efficiently as the beginning of his administration has shown a lot of promise and potential geared towards the overall socio-economic development of the state.
No wonder the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and immediate-past governor of Kano state, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, had described Governor Ahmed Aliyu as a young and dynamic leader full of courage and zeal to deliver Sokoto state to a promised land.
Now that the coast is clear, what is left for the people is to continue to pray and support the Aliyu administration, irrespective of political party affiliations, so that the provision of needed services to the people in the state and the implementation of all the policies and programmes for sustainable growth and development in the state will be assured.
By the foregoing, I appeal to the opposition and the good people of Sokoto state to join hands with the Aliyu government to move the state to the next level.
Lawal Jet Kaugama, a commentator on national issues, writes from Kano.
