By Bashir Rabe Mani
Democracy has largely and globally been defined and accepted as the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Indeed, democracy is a system of government that has come to stay across as under it the people hold sway because they only loan their mandates of authority as a trust to those in the position of elective positions.
Simply put,democracy provides an ample leverage to the electorate to elect the leaders they so desire, but only on the platform of political parties.
It’s certain that, any other form of leadership except democracy is vehemently rejected by all right thinking democrats.
Thus, it was an infraction of democracy and an aberation the hitherto obnoxious military incursions into democracy in se unfortunate nations, including Nigeria prior to 1999.
In Nigeria, however, it has been a steady and elating story as democracy has continued to trudge on successfully from 1999 to date.
Nigeria has subsequently successively remained on the trajectory of democratic development since. What a soothing phenemenon for all democrats, and NOT the doubting Thomases.
Instructivelly, Nigeria had conducted successive successful civilian- to-civilan transition from 1999 to date.
The nation had also recorded myriad of tangible achievements, all courtesy to democracy and the founding fathers of the country who had sown the seeds of democracy upon the nation’s independence in 1960, hence sacking the Union Jack.
It was that same feat that was happily replicated during the 2023 general elections, with yet another successful democratic transition.
That was the epochal event that brought into power leaders at all levels, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Gov. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, FCNA, into the number job in the Seat of the Caliphate, Sokoto.
To any discerning mind, the people of Sokoto have not in anyway regretted handing over their mandate to the Governor and who was historically sworn in on May 29th, 2023. That day would indeed remain indelible in the minds of the Sakkwatwas who have been happily reaping myriad of dividends of democracy from then to date.
It was not in anyway surprising as the people of the state have never had it so good like now, but only during the era of his political mentor and benefactor, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Sarkin Yamman Sokoto.
I can also safely say that, Dr Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, FCNA, is “Alu- reincanate”, as he has continued from where his Father had stopped in 2015. The people of Sokoto State are now the better for it as they have been garnering one dividend of democracy to the other
The Governor’s nine-point certainly leaves no one in doubt that he was well cut out for the number job in the state. Indeed, this is glaringly evident from the deluge of projects that had since been inaugurated.
There were also several other social welfare packages successfully doled out to the generality of the people of the state during the period under review. These tangible projects had since been inaugurated and put to proper use by the people of the state.
Sokoto was really a beehive of activities in the past few weeks as notable guests from within and outside the state had either commissioned one project or the other, while some laid the foundation for several other poelle-centric projects.
These highly placed and esteemed personalities ranged from the nation’s number two citizen, Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, APC’s National Chairman and former Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Others were the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Umar Namadi, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, APC leader in Sokoto State, Emir of Argungu, His Royal Highness Alhaji Sama’ila Mohammed Mera and the immediate past Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, among several others.
They all dished out garlands for Gov. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, FCNA, a truly commited, diligent, youthful, Iconic, patriotic, prolific and pious Governor of the legendary Seat of the Caliphate.
“”One would not however be surprised as to the beautiful performances of the Governor in the past 100+ days as ,”Barewa ba ta gudu dan ta yayi rarrafe–meaning, he is a true son of his political Father, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Sarkin Yamman Sokoto.
The vice president said that Gov. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto has embarked on numerous projects with a human face including the completion of projects he inherited from the previous administration of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal which included an overhead bridge.
He commended the leader of the APC in the state, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko for developing such a candidate as Governor, describing the former Governor of the state as not just a leader in Sokoto but that of the entire North and Nigeria as a whole.
Also, all the notable guests as earlier extolled the sterling achievements of Gov. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, FCNA. They told the people of the state that they have made the right choice by electing the governor. What more can one add, but corroborate these notable and highly esteemed elder statesmen who gave positive compliments about Dr Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto.
Responding to the various heartening comments, Dr Aliyu promised to sustain the tempo, saying that the comments would spur him to do more to take Sokoto State to greater heights.
Coincidentally,, the election of the governor was happily upheld on Saturday, October 30,2023, by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that sat in Sokoto. This goes further to set the stage for the consolidation of the myriad of achievements of the ever-dexterous people’s governor.
The Sokoto Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed the petition against Gov. Ahmed Aliyu and his Deputy, Idris Gobir, filed by Sa’idu Umar of the nPeoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to a news report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the petitioner, Umar was challenging the election of Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Gobir over an alleged non qualification and electoral fraud during the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
In a unanimous judgement, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Haruna Mshelia, said the petitioners were unable to prove the six grounds formulated in the petition.
He said that the grounds bordered on alleged ineligibility for Aliyu and Gobir to contest, falsification of certificates, variation of names, election frauds and non compliance with electoral guidelines.
Mshelia said also said that the petitioners were unable to prove the allegations beyond reasonable double as required by the law as 70 per cent of the exhibits were out of context because they related to State Assembly elections conducted on the same dates.
According to him, to prove forgery, two different documents or persons needed to be presented and the petitioners failed while the variation of names issue was settled Supreme Court provisions.
Mshelia said that three subpoened witnesses were not tenable as they were not makers of the documents from the alleged primary school while other 28 polling units agents who testified could not fully identify themselves along with thier roles.
The triunal chairman said that the alleged 138 polling units’ frauds were not adduced to indicate how substantial non compliance of the elections had marred the election’s outcome.
Mshelia added that the tribunal dismissed all the preliminary objections on competency to institute the case by the respondents as the petitioners duly linked the grounds in the petition.
He dismissed the petition for lack of merit and failure to prove the allegations by the petitioner.
Reacting to the verdict, Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, described the judgement issued by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Sokoto reaffirming his election as a victory for the entire state and Nigeria’s democracy.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakar Bawa, Gov. aliyu noted that the striking out of all the six grounds presented to the tribunal by the PDP in the state was a clear evidence that the PDP in Sokoto had no any genuine case.
According to him, the tribunal’s judgement is a clear testimony of the fact that the nation’s judiciary remains unbiased, describing the judgement as a welcome development to people of the state and all lovers of democracy within and outside Nigeria.
He also commeded the tribunal for doing the right thing and being fair after hearing from all those involved in the petition challenging the legitimacy of his victory at the 2023 Governorship election.
The Governor further called on the opposition in the state to join hands with his administration to move the state forward, saying that patriotism should now be the driving factor with a view to bolstering the even socio-economic development of the state.
He further reminded the opposition that 2027 is not far hence the need for them to ginger up for the next battle as the 2023 was done and dusted.
Gov. Aliyu said: “Our doors are still open to all well meaning citizens wishing to collaborate with us in moving our state forward. Sokoto state is for all of us, so we have to work together to make it better.”
Dr Aliyu further reassured the people of the state of his administration’s determination to execute people-oriented projects for the overall development of the state.
“We are determined to sustain the developmental projects we have started in our 100 days in office. Our nine-point agenda will be vigorously persued to transform our dear state for the good of all,” he vowed.
Governor Aliyu also thanked the people of the state for their sustained support, goodwill and fervent prayers at all times.
Siimilarly, the people of the state instantly embarked on wild jubilations sequel to the welcome judgment that would enable Gov. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, FCNA, to further transform the state to an enviable height for it to be at par with its contemporaries across the country and beyond ,and/or even surpass them.
The judgment is indeed a very precious gift to the people of Sokoto State coming just few days after he successfully marked his first one hundreds in office and some few hours to the nation’s 63rd Independence Anniversary.
Rabe, a journalist writes from Garki-Abuja.
