By Dr. Dahiru Maishanu
I have not been this close to him, despite our many decades of growing up in the same local area of Sokoto, and despite family ties.
I never underestimated him though, having known his family background and knowing he is well schooled to the level of being an elite Harvard graduate and a former Minister of the Federal Republic, among others.
Yusuf Suleiman stroke me yesterday and cleared any doubts that Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal indeed, remained a strategic thinker by choosing him to be the Director General of the Sokoto State PDP Campaign Director General.
This was at the press conference held to intimate the press and the public of the flag-off of the PDP Sokoto State Campaign starting at Dange Shuni on the 28th of December, 2022. He proved versatile, resourceful and incisive.
A part from his eloquent use of the Queen’s language that made some of us confused whether his alma mater was the Harvard or the Cambridge University, he showed us that he was on top of situation on his desk.
Hon. Suleiman succinctly pointed out the cardinal principles of his Party’s campaign agenda, unveiling PDP’s Blue print for Sokoto under the leadership of Governor Aminu Waziri for the success of Hon. Saidu Umar Ubandoman Sokoto, the governorship candidate.
The DG was able to touch on the legacies of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who is the undisputed leader and arrowhead of the PDP movement which form the Ubandoma’s strategic agenda.
The Aminu Waziri testimonials of physical infrastructural projects, ranging from Education, Health, Water supply, Roads (urban, rural and city flyovers) and other infrastructural achievements were laid bare for journalists and the public to compare and contrast.
The lingering issue of youth restiveness and its negative effects as promoted by the other side was also pointed.
The DG reminded all, that Sokoto has had enough share of what is now known as ‘area-boyism’, prior to the coming of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and how his efforts have been positively reversing the negative trend.
He told the nation how his party intends to continue the momentum under the erudite and morally upright Mallam.
Without reading from a prepared script, he also told his audience of the human capital development projects of Governor Tambuwal and the promise to further pursue them under Mallam Ubandoma.
The DG also harped on the current insecurity situation in the country reminding us all of how the Federal Government under the leadership of the APC has failed on its own repeatedly amplified promise to secure the nation since 2015.
That the security of lives and property of Nigerians have been thrown to the dogs is no longer in doubt is not contestable.
The nation is therefore is not secured under another round of APC onslaught.
Mr. DG concluded by a very bold statement, daring the APC government not to attempt to use its Almighty vast resources to tamper with legitimate electoral franchise of the Sokoto people in the next elections.
He noted that although the APC government at the centre, has the constitutional control of the security operatives, it remains so but not in the coercive way.
The fact that the Hon Minister of Police Affairs, the Senate Chairman of the Committee on the Army are both from Sokoto and from the APC, is not any guarantee that allows for unofficial interferences.
Hon. Yusuf Suleiman has indeed started the race. Respect D.G!
Maishanu is former Information Commissioner in Sokoto state and can be reached at moyijoh62@yahoo.com
