Alhaji Sambo Bello Danchadi is the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Sokoto State, he speaks on the challenges and achievements of the administration of the state governor, Ahmad Aliyu. KUNLE ODEREMI brings excerpts:
HOW has it been for the Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto administration since assumption of office?
I must confess that it has been extremely challenging working with Dr Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto because he is clearly in a hurry to make up for the lack of development in the state for the last eight years. He has brought the mentality of nothing should be an obstacle in delivering on his 9-point agenda, his covenant with Sokoto state people. And being young, experienced and determined to deliver means we must try and match his speed. The governor works 24 hours because the people want solutions to their problems and not excuses. On the whole, being the chief marketing officer of the Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto administration has been challenging and exciting. Seeing visible results in virtually every sector has made the assignment interesting.
There were reports that the governor’s assumption of office wasn’t smooth. There were reports that former Governor Aminu Tambuwal didn’t hand over. How bad was it for Governor Sokoto on assumption of office? What were the greatest challenges that the Governor Aliyu administration faced?
I want to confirm the newspaper reports as factual. Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto was denied the benefit of a handover note, so that he would not hit the ground running. There were sufficient obstacles to ensure that the governor didn’t function. For instance, the Government House was in total darkness because the government owed the Kaduna Electricity Company. The people also couldn’t enjoy public water supply. The governor had to make emergency arrangements for the restoration of water supply, for the restoration of public power supply and to the government house. Our students in higher institutions were equally affected because the former administration was owing their tuition. In fact, many of the schools threatened to stop them from writing their examinations until the governor intervened. He also ensured that power was restored to the Government House, ministries and the water corporation. He equally made an undertaking to offset the outstanding fees, which enabled the students to write their examinations. The former administration equally left N4 billion pension and gratuity liabilities, again, the governor is tackling it headlong. Thankfully, he surmounted the challenges and that helped set the tone in his relationship with the people of the state that challenges would not deter him from achieving his objectives. The governor campaigned and was elected on his nine-point agenda by the good people of Sokoto State.
Were there other impediments to the smooth take off of the Aliyu administration?
I must confess that the previous administration programmed Governor Sokoto to fail, but because he came adequately prepared and being someone with abiding faith in God, he was undaunted. By May 29, 2023, mountains of refuse had taken over the state capital, which was meant to embarrass and create the impression that the incoming government lacked the capacity to govern. But, once again, they gave the governor the opportunity to show his capacity and readiness for the job. They didn’t even care about the health implications of their actions.
You talked about a backlog of pensions, gratuities. How about salary?
The Tambuwal administration left the government a huge pension and gratuities liabilities. While they paid salaries, they usually delayed payment into the new month. The pension liability dated back to 2016. Unfortunately, many pensioners lost their lives waiting to be paid. Again moved by the plight of those who gave their youth in service of the state, Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto immediately inaugurated a powerful committee that was headed by the accountant general of the state, who he inherited from the Tambuwal administration. The committee’s report, which was publicly presented, revealed a liability of over N14 billion. Governor Sokoto being a compassionate leader immediately made a commitment to release N4 billion and a subsequent commitment of N500 million every month until the liability is cleared.
Why was there an unfriendly handover?
Governor Sokoto was once the deputy governor to Tambuwal, but Governor Sokoto on a matter of principle resigned the position and in the 2019 elections and ran against Tambuwal. So, I want to see the reaction of the former governor as a case of accumulated hostility. Though the court pronounced the former governor as winner, the people believe that Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto won the election despite the pronouncements of the court. He couldn’t believe his candidate could be defeated.
But you surmounted the challenges?
Yes, the administration was able to surmount the challenges and, in fact, delivered several landmark projects within its 100 days. Very importantly, he restored faith and trust in government. As at the time he took over as governor, the people had lost faith in government addressing issues that affect them and they had every right to, especially as the government was not responsive to the issues that affect them and is staggering their salary and owing pensioners. Again, the governor is showing the difference. He has stabilised salary payment. Even the industrial unions were shortchanged. Deductions were not remitted to them. Governor Ahmad Aliyu has sanitised the remittances of check off dues to the unions. This has won the governor praises from the very critical unions. The last administration was also not paying ministries monthly running costs which adversely affected the smooth running of government. The governor has since restored it, just as salaries are paid on the 19th of every month. We have bank loans which a commission of inquiry is working on.
Will I be correct to say that Governor Sokoto is not witch-hunting the former governor, that he is only trying to find out what happened since Tambuwal didn’t leave him a handover note?
Absolutely. And even my submissions on what happened before we came in is to also show what we have done differently. The governor wasted no time moving on, but he has a duty to let the people know what he met on ground and to be honest with you the governor is more interested in remedies.
When President Olusegun Obasanjo came to commission projects during the governor’s first anniversary, he asked Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto to pay more attention to publicizing his activities. Why was that?
The governor I must confess is somebody who prefers his works to speak for him and it’s not totally true that he doesn’t like publicity. The difference is that he wants our communication to be based on facts and not propaganda. His motivation to serve comes from his love for the people and his desire to positively impact on their lives. There is no doubt that his experience over the years as a finance officer in the local government, as the commissioner for social development, health during the administration of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and as the deputy governor further solidified his vision to serve humanity and to change the story of Sokoto state. There is no way you would work with our revered leader the distinguished Senator Wamakko and not love the people. I can tell you that his political philosophy flows from the political tutelage he received under him. And for someone who has always been a Sokoto man, except for the period when he was the executive secretary of the Police Trust Fund so, he is through and through a grassroots man.
What kind of leader is the governor?
He is accessible, and open. He is not the bossy type. The governor relates very well with his appointees. He is somebody you enjoy working with, jovial, down to earth, and committed to delivering on his campaign promises. He is very focused. Let’s talk about the governor’s nine-point agenda. The key issues include Improving and Modernising Health Care, Education, Local Government Autonomy and this is very important, Social Development, Security, Infrastructure, Strengthening of the Civil Service towards making it more productive and I’m surprised he is ensuring prompt payment of salaries, pensions, gratuities as and when due an issue. So, let’s start with prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities. The labourer deserves his wage and even those who gave their time, their youths to the state deserve their pension. When this administration came on board, we had to ensure prompt payment of salaries because it was a big problem and you can ask any civil servant. The governor made it an agenda because it was an issue that affected not just the public servants but that impacted on the economy of the state, because the state government remains the largest employer of labour. Governor Sokoto said bye to delayed salary, to 40 days a month as the basis for the payment of salary instead of 30 days. The payments have been programmed and computerised that from the 19th of each month, salaries are paid. The salaries start hitting accounts from midnight.
Let’s talk about local government autonomy. It is interesting that long before the Supreme Court decision, the governor had as far back as 2023 made it an issue?
Governor Sokoto is ahead of time, a visionary. For him, local government autonomy is an article of faith which explains why it’s one of his nine-point agenda. He worked for the local government and understands why it needs to be free. His support for local government autonomy is based on experience. Before the Supreme Court, he had tabled the bill for the amendment of the Local Government Law 2009 for the extension of their tenure from two to three years because, in the opinion of the governor, two years is too short a time for any chairman to deliver.
When the Supreme Court ruling came, we were very pleased about it as we, in Sokoto state, saw it as a vindication of the governor’s position. Again, arrangements have been concluded for the local government elections scheduled for September 21, 2024. The candidates are already campaigning.
So, they were perpetually in debts, have things changed under Governor Sokoto?
Yes, under Governor Ahmad Aliyu, things have drastically changed. He hasn’t borrowed to fund any project. I can attest to that because I’m a member of the State Executive Council and there has been no loan request presented before the Council. It all boils down to financial management. We are grateful that the governor is a financial guru.
But wasn’t it the economic downturn that affected the Tambuwal administration?
I don’t think so. Remember that the Federal Government also extended a lot of support to states; the former governor ought to have shown leadership in the management of the scarce resources.
Let’s talk about local government autonomy. It is interesting that long before the Supreme Court decision, the governor had as far back as 2023 made it an issue?
Governor Sokoto is ahead of time, a visionary. For him, local government autonomy is an article of faith which explains why it’s one of his nine-point agenda. Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto worked for the local government and understands why it needs to be free. His support for local government autonomy is based on experience. Before the Supreme Court, he had tabled the bill for the amendment of the Local Government Law 2009 for the extension of their tenure from two to three years because, in the opinion of the governor, two years is too short a time for any chairman to deliver. When the Supreme Court ruling came, we were very pleased about it as we, in Sokoto state, saw it as a vindication of the governor’s position. Again, arrangements have been concluded for the local government elections scheduled for September 21, 2024. The candidates are already campaigning.
The governor has shown himself to be a man who believes in the rule of law and the constitution. He recently signed six amendments into law. Would APC win the entire 23 local governments or will the will of the people prevail?
My governor is a democrat. I can assure you that the will of the people will prevail.
In 2015, then Governor Tambuwal declared a state of emergency on education. However, according to a 2023 survey conducted by the same state government, there were 776,000 out-of-school children across the 23 local government areas of the state. Is it that the state of emergency did not work? What is Governor Aliyu Sokoto doing to change this ugly situation?
The only thing about the state of emergency is the 2.5 percent deduction from the workers’ salaries. There is no improvement whatsoever in terms of infrastructure, or in the engagement of teachers. Again, we don’t know what they did with the money. There is no corresponding infrastructure to match the deductions. Governor Ahmad Aliyu immediately stopped the deductions. To address the challenges, the government commenced payment of the matching grant to enable it access funds from the Universal Basic Education. Key is the rehabilitation of classrooms, employment of teachers, provision of water and sanitation facilities.
Will your ministry embark on a sensitisation campaign to encourage parents to enroll their children in schools because you have 776,000 out-of-school children?
Yes, we are. We are working alongside with some NGOs, both local and international. Be rest assured that we will upscale our campaigns. We will also work with the local government councils.
Not many Nigerians are aware that Sokoto State faces serious security challenges; we know of those of Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger states. How bad is the situation at your border with Zamfara State? What is Governor Ahmad Aliyu doing about it?
He is doing a lot. First, was the setting up of the Community Guard Watch Corps to complement the security agencies. He is also providing them with logistical support, including allowances for the security personnel. The community corps know their communities and are helping with invaluable intelligence. We are getting support from the federal government. It’s a North-west problem so he is working with the other states to address the problem in a holistic manner.
There have been many wins in the war.
What are the achievements of the governor so far?
The achievements of Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto are visible both in the state capital and in the 23 local government areas. In the area of road construction, several roads have been constructed; Binji road, Sahara area, Gawon Nama, Ramen Kura and Old Market. Equally, in areas of urban renewal, Governor Sokoto has pencilled Tudun Wada for complete renewal and in the area of housing, 500 units have been built at Wajake in Wamakko local government area. There are some other roads that have been constructed. Currently, the state government has awarded the contract for construction of roads in Gudu, Tangaza, Tambuwal, Dange- Shuni local government areas, among many others. This administration has also awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the Tambuwal – Kepe road and the bridge which had almost collapsed as well as the ongoing construction of the Silame bridge. In the area of welfare of the people, the government purchased grains and distributed to all parts of the state free. Over N5 billion worth of grains were distributed free to the people, rather than the governor using the money to fly private jets. Currently, the government is in the process of distributing fertilisers to farmers. Every local government is receiving 10 trucks of fertilisers free of charge.
The welfare of the people is very important to the governor and he is doing everything humanly possible to reduce the hardship the people are facing. He has commenced payment of N10,000 to people with disabilities. When the federal government donated 20 trucks of rice, the state government couldn’t find itself distributing 20 trucks to the 23 local government areas, so it bought additional trucks so that each local government could get a truck. He is also supporting small businesses because he wants to aggressively grow the economy. In virtually every area the governor is reaching out. He has acquired buses for ease of movement of the people.
So, where do you think the Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto administration will be by 2027?
By 2027, what we expect is that there will be no opposition because the people would have been overwhelmed by the achievements of Governor Ahmad Aliyu that they would have no choice than to join forces with the governor to continue his good work. It will be by performance.
READ ALSO: Some banks, top officials to be prosecuted soon — EFCC boss