By Isa Muhammad
The by-elections or the reruns conducted across the nation by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday February 3, 2024, is very significant to the political calculation in Sokoto State.
The rerun elections conducted have come a number of offsets. The most glaring of these is the rerun in Tambuwal West into Sokoto State House of Assembly where the All Progressives Congress (APČ) candidate, against all odds, won the seat to the state assembly.
The bewildered Peoples Democratic Party in state had a cause to reject the rerun election results of Tambuwal West Constituency because they did not expect the painful loss.
Smarting under the pain of losing the traditional stronghold of PDP led by former governor and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.Aminu Wažiri Tambuwal, they described APC’s victory as a daylight robbery.
But the robbery they meant is not the criminal robbery peculiar to armed or unarmed robbers, but the types brought about by the popularity of the candidate in question, and particularly, Gov Aliyu.
Prior to the by-election, it was unthinkable that APC or any other party could beat former governor Tambuwal in his constituency. Therefore, the victory of Dahiru Bashir Ahmed of the APC is a clear testimony that Gov Aliyu has conquered the whole state within the short period of his stewardship. His popularity this time around knows no bounds. He has conquered and will conquer more.
And why wouldn’t he when he is busy laying solid foundation for a government whose top proćiority is the welfare of the people. Within the short period he has been in the Sokoto State House, people have witnessed unprecedented change in the polity. Dividends of democracy are self-evident in different parts of the state. Gov Aliyu, in his benevolence, extends his warm embrace to all, regardless of political loyalties and personal principles.
Gov Aliyu, in the course of his official duties, has carved a niche for himself. Though he is being guided by nothing but humanity, it is not out of point to say he has cleared all likely obstacles to his 2027 ambition because of his humane character, prudence and altruism.
Democracy as the institution of the people by the people ensures that those who follow it’s tenets are assured of the people’s support. So why won’t Sokoto people who regard Gov Aliyu as Godsend, celebrate?
Having found that no wrongdoing was connected to Bashir’s victory in the rerun, the PDP, in a statement signed by the state spokesman, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, on Sunday, congratulated the winner on the rival APC platform.
INEC had declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dahiru Bashir Ahmed, as the winner of the Tambuwal West constituency with a total number of 19,315 votes, while PDP’s Hantsi Sule Romo polled a total number of 19,021 votes.
Like Wammako, within the short period Aliyu took over the rein of governance in Sokoto, he had provided countless numbers of social and capital infrastructure as well as enabling environment for business communities as well as resources for human capital development in such a way that the people became aware of the promises his government holds in store for them.
Nigerians have seen in the historic homecoming of Aliyu after the Supreme Court victory, a man that will attract higher national or international assignment in the foreseeable future.
The governor, in his humility, expressed his feeling while addressing a mammoth crowd of residents who converged on the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport to welcome him and his entourage back to the state.
He arrived alongside his mentor and the state’s party leader, Aliyu Wamakko.
Because of human traffic, his journey to Wamakko’s Gawon-nama residence significantly took about three hours for a journey that should take few minutes due to the overwhelming crowd that turned out to receive him.
Seeing that he owed his victory to the people, in his address to the jubilant crowd, he dedicated his Supreme Court victory to the people.
He made it clear that the victory he achieved reflected their trust and belief in his capacity to lead and advance the state to the desired global index of comfort and joy.
As a humble and Godfearing public officeholder, Gov Aliyu’s leadership style is creating a template of good governance to be emulated by all state governors in the country and beyond
Isa Muhammad writes from Tambuwal, Tambuwal local government, Sokoto State.
