Ex-governor Bafarawa Donates N1bn to Sokoto People, Laments Missed Opportunity

•Says funds for productive ventures may have been misappropriated

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, yesterday donated N1 billion to the people of the state in a gesture he described as his quest to “give back” to the citizens that voted overwhelmingly for him over 25 years ago.

At an event in Sokoto organised by the Attahiru Bafarawa Foundation, the ex-Sokoto leader said the donation was in appreciation of the trust and confidence the people of the state had in him for allowing him lead them for eight years and a way of ‘filling the gaps’ he left behind.

He also set up a committee headed by Alhaji Lawal Maidoki ( Sadaukin Sokoto) to manage the funds.

According to the former governor, while he recognised the fact that he delivered dividends of democracy to the people while in office, he had continued to entertain some mixed feelings, especially the urge to  do more for the people.

Bafarawa said that no other time could be more auspicious to give back to the people than now that hunger and hardship were ravaging the land.

“A little over 25 years ago, an overwhelming majority of the voting population of Sokoto State gave me their mandate to serve them as their first executive governor after the locust years of military incursion into politics.

“ Four years after, they renewed the mandate by electing me into office for a second term. I did not and do not take this show of love by the people for granted. I appreciate very immensely the historic opportunity they gave me to serve them as governor for eight years.

“In the years that I served as governor, I did my utmost best to ensure that dividends of democracy were delivered to the people. My government recorded infrastructural landmarks, particularly in the area of road construction.

“I ensured that the resources of the state were prudently managed. It was against this background that I left a whopping N13 billion in the coffers of Sokoto state government by the time I left office in 2007,” he stated.

However, he pointed out  that each time he looked back to his years as governor, while acknowledging the people’s love and solidarity, he felt that more could have been done for the people of the state.

As the governor of Sokoto State, Bafarawa said he was entrusted with the resources of the people, explaining that given the enormous powers of an executive governor, the temptation to transgress was always there.

“It is therefore possible that one may have taken one action or the other that did not serve the best interest of the general public. In other words, one could, through acts of omission or commission, misappropriate funds that could have gone into productive and rewarding ventures.

“Thoughts of scenarios such as this could be troubling. They prick the conscience. This situation, in my opinion, calls for restitution. I feel the urge to reconnect in some other ways with the people for a lost opportunity. I consider this necessary in order for one to make peace not only with the people but also with the Almighty,” Bafarawa said.

He added that latent sense of missed opportunity was what driving his giving back philosophy, explaining that regardless of whatever effort that he may have made to improve the lot of the people while in office, the fact remains that he, just like any other human being had his drawbacks.

While admitting that he may therefore not have lived up to everyone’s expectation, he noted that he was seeking the face of the people afresh and their forgiveness in this regard.

“Personally, I ask for forgiveness, as I have always done, in whatever area I fell short of the people’s expectations. While I do not wish to dwell on the past, what is constant in my relationship with the people of Sokoto State is my undying concern for their wellbeing.

“For some 17 years after leaving office, I am delighted to say that my compact with the people has remained intact. 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 to me. At no time can this giving back philosophy of mine be more auspicious and compelling than now that the people are passing through hard times occasioned by the harsh economic climate in the country.

“ It is against this background that I have decided to make available the sum of N1 billion for the welfare and wellbeing of the people of Sokoto State. The management of this fund has been entrusted to a committee that I personally set up,” he explained.