HARDSHIP: Ex Sokoto Gov, Attahiru Bafarawa, donates N1b to state’s people
*Some may call this atonement but I see it as act of reciprocity giving back to the people, He says *Entrusts management of fund to Lawal Maidoki-led Committee *As Talatan Mafara advises committee to consider internally displaced persons *Prof. Mansur Ibrahim enjoins Nigerians to be patriotic and work for development of people *Bafarawa is a great leader - Chairman, Vision FM, Shu’aibu Mungadi extols virtues of ex-Gov
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“At 70 years of age, I feel a greater pull towards the people. My desire now is to ensure that I fill whatever gaps that I may have created, consciously or unconsciously, in my relationship with the people while I was in office.”
Former Governor of Sokoto State, His Excellency Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, on Wednesday September 18, 2024 donated N1 billion as endowment to the people state.
Bafarawa ruled the state for eight years, between 1999 and 2007 when the current President of Nigeria and Governor Emeritus, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was Governor of Lagos State.
One of the great things that happened during his tenure, aside justice, good governance, accountability and transparency in leadership, was the advent of the current Khalifatul Shehu Usmam Dan Fodio, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, as the Sultan of Sokoto Caliphate.
Former Presidential Candidate Attahiru Bafarawa, who has further been linked with humility and mentoring of the most respectful Governor that Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal represents (2015-2023) in Nigeria, while releasing the money on Wednesday to his state’s people explained that the gesture was born out of his desire to ensure that he fills whatever gaps he might have created while in office.
“At 70 years of age, I feel a greater pull towards the people. My desire now is to ensure that I fill whatever gaps that I may have created, consciously or unconsciously, in my relationship with the people while I was in office.
“Some may call this atonement, but I prefer to see it as an act of reciprocity. I want to give back to the people the goodwill and love they showed me.
“At no time can this giving back philosophy of mine be more suspicious and compelling than now that the people are passing through hard times occasioned by the current hardship in the country.
“It is against this background that, I have decided to make available the sum of N1bn for the welfare and well-being of the people of Sokoto State,” he said.
He, however, sought for forgiveness from the people for whatever wrong he might have done during his tenure as governor of the state.
Bafarawa explained that the management of this fund was entrusted to a committee chaired by Malam Lawal Maidoki, who is Chairman of the Sokoto State Zakat and Endowment Commission.
Also speaking at the event, Sheikh Isa Talatan Mafara, advised the committee to consider internally displaced persons who need this support the most.
Another cleric, Professor Mansur Ibrahim, enjoined Nigerians to be patriotic and work for the growth and development of the people.
The Chairman, Vision FM, Shu’aibu Mungadi, extolled the virtue of the former Governor whom he described as a great leader.
