It all started early last year when elendureporters.com reported that Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa (Garkuwan Sokoto) the Executive Governor of Sokoto owned a house in London; an asset that was allegedly not declared with the Code of Conduct Bureau as stipulated by Law. No sooner had the internet report appear, a number of newspapers and journals in Nigeria made it their major headlines for sale as hot cake.

 

In response to the report, and knowing the political as well as the moral implications of the allegation involved, the governor wisely wrote to the State House of Assembly, reminding the Honourable Members of their constitutional responsibility to probe the allegations. The House promptly swung into action and the probe findings cleared the governor of any constitutional and financial breaches.

 

The allegations by both elendurepoerters as re-echoed in the Nigerian media centred around one single issue: Bafarawa’s house in London. However, none of the reporters and media houses could then say the source of the funds used by the governor in purchasing the house or whether or not the property was declared by him in his submission to the Code of conduct Bureau.

 

While political pundits were coming up with theories and tales on the matter, the governor cut the story short by providing details on the property, how he acquired it, its value and its status in the declaration he had made to the Code of Conduct Bureau. He said it loud that the said property was acquired after having sold off his house in Abuja to the Federal Government, where the late President of the Republic of Niger, Dauda Mallam Wanke was accommodated. Furthermore, it was part of the proceeds realized from the sale that was the source of funds used in acquiring the London house in question. To cap it all, he submitted that the property was duly declared in his asset declaration update with the Code of Conduct when he was to be sworn in for the second term of office in 2003.

 

Since then, the matter seemed to have reached its logical conclusion. This is so because even those that ignited the flame of the devastating allegation no longer raise it again. In all, Sokoto state citizens came to the realization that what they have is but a prudent and accountable manager whose mission is basically to perform and deliver the dividends of democracy. The governor has initiated and implemented programmes and policies that have positively impacted virtually all aspects of lives of the citizens. The state resources are prudently managed and spent in strict accordance with the nation’s and state financial regulations. With a caliber of his financially disciplined cabinet members, he operates a efficient system in terms of running the state affairs and state finance. Without being indebted to any institution, body, or contractor, the state coffer is never dry; the state always has enough funds reserved for eventualities.

 

No wonder, when on September 27, 2006, the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, appeared before the Senate and provided a kind of statement of account of EFCC journey so far, Bafarawa was cleared when he declared that he could not yet establish any case of financial misappropriation against Bafarawa. The Ribadu’s verdict was long expected and due. When the media confronted him on how he was able to earn the Ribadu’s Gold Medal, Bafarawa said that accountability and fear of God is all it takes for any public office holder to attain glory and respect. He reiterated that public office holders must bear in mind that their subjects, organized groups and regulatory bodies are watching and assessing them, even as they must all one day give account of their stewardship in the Hereafter.

 

The allegations surrounding Bafarawa’s asset in London seemed closed since when the State House of Assembly established his innocence. However, in its edition of Monday, October 2003, Daily Trust newspaper reported that the Code of Conduct Bureau indicts 15 state governors, among them Bafarawa for false declaration of assets.

 

Governor Bafarawa was alleged to have refused declaring a two hundred million property he owned in London while in office, an act prohibited by our Laws. More damaging was the allegation that the governor failed to say the source of funds he used in acquiring the said property. Somewhere in the report, the property in question was said to have consisted of two duplexes.

 

Expectedly, Bafarawa instantly wrote to the Code of Conduct Bureau to give further details on the matter. He wrote that he did not acquire any duplex house since 1999 when he became governor. Also, he challenged that the cost of London house that was put at N200 million was incorrect as the house was bought from Alhaji Mamman Asarakawa of Sokoto at the cost of N60 million. Finally, the governor categorically mentioned the source of funds used in purchasing the house. That the N60 million he paid for the house was part of the N100 million he realized from the sale of his own Abuja house to the Federal Government, in which the former President of Niger Republic, late Dauda Mallam Wanke, was accommodated.

 

Any one following the pattern of the foregoing scenario will be tempted to ask: Who is behind the revisiting of a case that was transparently concluded since last year? Why should Code of Conduct Bureau allow itself to be used by certain individuals who can never politically march Bafarawa at both state and national level? Has the Bureau not been involved when the Sokoto State House of Assembly was probing the case last year? Are the enemies of Sokoto state and democracy igniting fire with intent of causing devastating effect as is being witnessed in Ekiti, Plateau and Anambra states? Is the matter revisited in jealousy to Bafarawa’s recent Gold Medal Award by the EFCC?

 

One can but pose many a question on why the issue of Bafarawa’s London house that had for long been settled is now resurrecting. Surely, the masterminds behind the treachery must be a collaborative force based in Abuja with syndicate members in Sokoto. Bafarawa’s resolve to defend democracy and uphold its tenets has over years angered many. He refused to succumb to the demands of selfish and corrupt politicians who are all out to amass wealth and to clinch to power for life. His stand against the obnoxious Third Term gangsterism must have had angered the Abuja power thirsty political class. Moreover, Bafarawa must have offended those at the centre when upon abandonment by his former Party he, in collaboration with well-meaning Nigerians, formed another party instead of joining the militarized party controlling the Centre.

 

Ever since the realization that Bafarawa will never collaborate in any attempt to derail the democratization process in the country, the combined Abuja forces and their cohorts in Sokoto have embarked on series of allegations against him. Petitions and accusations are always leveled against him. Back in Sokoto, chaotic situations are daily created with intent of portraying the Seat of the Caliphate as security prone zone. Recently, attempts were made to even distance him from other state governors in the North when he was alleged to have condemned them for non-performance.

 

So, what exactly do Bafarawa’s opponents want? Are they cruelly dragging Sokoto state to where Bayelsa, Oyo, Ekiti, Plateau and Anambra states are? Why are they so deaf and blind to the level of achievements recorded by Bafarawa’s administration in the state? Do they not know how Herculean task it is for any governor to pass the transparency examination administered by Ribadu?

 

Finally, we need not to deceive ourselves. Governor Bafarawa has really performed and transformed Sokoto state. He is never corrupt but financially disciplined and able prudent manager of public resources. He remains thankful to God for being rich enough not tempted to loot public funds. Moreover, Bafarawa’s new party is heading towards heading a new government in the state come 2007. This must have been another source of concern to members of other political parties who erroneously thought that come 2007 Bafarawa’s influence in the state would fade away.

 

It is our prayer that the Seat of the Caliphate and its long established tradition of progress and prosperity shall never be derailed. May the deaf hear and the blind see the whole truth.

 

 

Mamman Gatawa,

A4, Gobirawa Quarters,

Sokoto