By Bello Shehu Tamaje
The Sokoto State opposition party PDP, has now found a disturbing new pastime in sponsoring and spreading fake news. This attempt has not only become a celebrated trend but has also became a weaponized tool to embarrass the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu.
Through strategically fabricated stories, the opposition seeks to convince the public that the current government is failing, making imaginary allegations and claiming irresponsible expenditures on projects being executed, which they labeled as unnecessary and irrelevant.
The overall aim of these tactics is clear: to paint a picture of a government indifferent to the wellbeing of its people, creating an illusion of incompetence and indifference. By dishing out to the public misinformation, the opposition seeks to sow seeds of mistrust and suspicion, hoping this will ultimately help them in their calculated attempt to regain power.
This effort, however, lacks sincerity and accountability, as it is not designed to address past mistakes or show remorse and chart a formidable alternative for Sokoto State.
Instead, it is making insidious and treacherous effort to return to power through deceit and manipulation of the gullible public, rather than through genuine show of concern for the people through constructive engagement by offering policy proposals or alternatives.
It is very easy to understand the opposition People’s Democratic party’s (PDP) frustrations, especially when viewed from the devastation of loosing its grip on Sokoto’s public funds and resources. Their two consecutive terms of four years each, has left behind a legacy marred by mismanagement and dashed promises.
Rather than taking responsibility for misadventure in power and seek to proffer alternatives on how to move the state forward, the PDP has become more focused on obstructing progress than contributing to it.
Conversely, it is a known fact that the last administration of the Party was notorious for dipping its fingers into the state treasury and its reckless depletion of public resources, with little to show in terms of development or economic empowerment.
Our State is still, pathetically, grappling with the effects of the party’s fiscal mismanagement, where funds that should have been used to empower communities and enhanced local infrastructure were diverted and misused, leaving behind a financial void rather than a tangible legacy.
To them, good governance appears to mean unrestrained access to state coffers, rather than producing meaningful results that benefit the Sokoto populace.
In contrast, Governor Aliyu’s administration has taken a responsible approach, focusing on impactful projects aligned with his 9-point agenda. The focus is on transparency, accountability, and tangible improvements across critical sectors like the economy, healthcare, education, religion, agriculture, youth empowerment and infrastructure.
The empowering of the less privileged, people with disabilities and the disadvantaged are in the policy framework of Governor Ahmed Aliyu.
Despite the opposition’s attempt to distort the narrative, this administration is dedicated to addressing the numerous needs of citizens of the State, improving their quality of life, and steering it toward a future of sustainable growth and development.
The people deserve more than the opposition’s divisive tactics and unwarranted attacks and trumped up claims. Sokoto deserve a leadership committed to progress which they perceived in Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s government , a government that values integrity and development. Governor Aliyu’s administration remains firm and steadfast in its commitment to good governance, refusing to be derailed by the distraction of fabricated lies and contrived controversies.
The Government would Instead, continue to focus on numerous initiatives, allowing the results to speak louder than the opposition’s rhetorics and misinformation.
There is no gain saying about the fact that the Sokoto people are still trying to contend with the long-standing effects of the PDP’s failures during its eight-year rule.
Rural areas were left almost entirely neglected under PDP’s administration. All basic infrastructures, including roads, housing, water, and healthcare facilities, remained inadequate or nonexistent, leaving rural communities isolated and frustrated.
Rather than directing resources toward balanced development across the length and breadth of the state, the PDP government deployed a portion of public funds on a handful of insignificant or nonexistent projects that often failed to address the needs of ordinary citizens.
Today, many rural areas are only just beginning to see a renewed hope on development, thanks to the current administration’s commitment to all inclusive growth and development.
Furthermore, the PDP’s neglect extended to the education sector, where students suffered from the administration’s repeated failure to pay for critical final-year secondary school examination fees. This forced many students to forgo their WEAC and NECO exams, effectively ending their educational pursuits as well as their dream of a better tomorrow.
Similarly, the PDP failed to provide consistent bursary allowances to students in tertiary institutions, leaving many struggling to continue their education. By depriving Sokoto’s youth of these essential supports, the PDP failed in its responsibility to invest in the future of the state, setting back educational development and causing frustration among students and their parents.
The scandal surrounding the sale of government quarters was another dent on the PDP’s unenviable record, reflecting a severe breach of public trust. During its time in power, PDP facilitated the sale of numerous government-owned properties and the proceeds from these transactions were never accounted for.
The lack of transparency and the outright disappearance of these funds raised questions about accountability and ethics within the administration. Rather than benefiting the people, the proceeds were lost, further depriving the state of resources that could have been used to fund viable projects and other social services.
This legacy of financial mismanagement and unfulfilled promises stands in stark contrast to the current administration’s approach. Governor Aliyu’s government has prioritized the equitable development in both urban and rural areas, ensuring that projects are executed frugally and benefit all citizens.
Initiatives that were sidelined under the PDP, such as paying exam fees for secondary students and providing consistent bursary allowances to tertiary students, have been revived to support educational success.
The people of Sokoto now witness an administration focused on restoring integrity, building a transparent system, and dedicating resources to the betterment of communities across the state. Through these efforts, Governor Aliyu’s government is not only correcting the mistakes of the past but also setting a foundation for a robust sustainable progress that benefits all citizens.
Bello Shehu
Tamaje writes from
Sokoto Liberal Democrats Media Foundation,SOLID .
