A former Sokoto governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, has asked for forgiveness from the state’s electorate in whatever ways he may have failed while in service, stressing that such infractions, through acts of omission or commission, prick his conscience.
By Emma Ogbuehi
A former Sokoto governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, has asked for forgiveness from the state’s electorate in whatever ways he may have failed while in service, stressing that such infractions, through acts of omission or commission, prick his conscience.
In a bid to make up and get reconnected with the people, Bafarawa, has unveiled his foundation, “Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa Foundation” with an initial capital of N1 billion naira. The gesture, he said, is to make restitution for the lost opportunity, make peace not only with the people but also with God.
The former governor while launching the foundation in Sokoto on Wednesday, in a ceremony held in his house tagged “Giving Back”, said it was part of his way to pay back to the people of the state who gave him the opportunity to serve as two-term governor in the state.
He recalled that as governor, he did his best to ensure that dividends of democracy were delivered to the people, including recording infrastructural landmarks, particularly in the area of road construction and ensuring that the resources of the state were prudently managed.
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The measures, he said, made him leave a whopping N13 billion in the coffers of Sokoto State Government by the time he left office in 2007. Notwithstanding the feat, Bafarawa acknowledged that he had had occasions to entertain some mixed feelings each time he looked back to his years as governor, especially over some actions he could have done better. Making atonement for such lost opportunity, he said, accounted for the urge to put up the foundation.
The priority areas of the Committee’s work, according to the former governor, is to take into account the pressing needs of various vulnerable communities, especially in the areas of food, shelter, water and clothing, among others.
Bafarawa said, “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. The trust and confidence which the people had for me made this possible.
“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.
“I must confess that I entertain some mixed feelings each time I look back to my years as governor. While acknowledging the people’s love and solidarity, I feel that I can do more in the area of giving back to the people.
“As the executive governor of Sokoto State, I was entrusted with the resources of the people.
“Given the enormous powers of an executive governor, the temptation to transgress is 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.
“This latent sense of missed opportunity is what drives my giving back philosophy. Regardless of whatever effort that I may have made to improve the lot of the people while in office, the fact remains that I, just like any other human being, have my drawbacks.
“I may therefore not have lived up to everyone’s expectation. Consequently, I seek the face of the people afresh in this regard. Personally, I ask for forgiveness, as I have always done, in whatever area I fell short of the people’s expectations.”
Bafarawa further said what is constant is his relationship with the people of Sokoto State and his 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 well-being of the people of Sokoto State,” he said.
He added, “The management of this fund has been entrusted to a Committee that I personally set up. The Committee is headed by Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, who is known throughout the country for his acumen, experience and honesty in dealing with issues of similar nature, especially the distribution of zakka and waqafi.”
He said Maidoki will be assisted in this assignment by equally trusted members drawn from different strata of society.
“The Committee is saddled with the responsibility of fashioning out the modalities and ways of delivering on its core mandate to the best of the abilities of the members. I have no doubt in my mind that the Committee will discharge this responsibility diligently and without fear or favour.
“The assignment covers all the 23 Local government areas of Sokoto State. The priority areas of the Committee’s work will take into account the pressing needs of various vulnerable communities, especially in the areas of food, shelter, water and clothing, among others,” Bafarawa added.
