By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
A significant blow to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State has come as too many prominent supporters of the party, led by Alhaji Chika Sarkin Gishiri, Chairman of the Sokoto State Traders Associations defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection took place at the residence of Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the APC leader in Sokoto State.
Statement by Bashar Abubakar said during a mini reception, Alhaji Sarkin Gishiri cited the group’s desire to move the state forward as the reason for their decision to join the APC.
The defectors assured the APC leadership of their commitment to working towards the development of Sokoto State.
According to Sarkin Gishiri, this mass defection is a significant setback for the PDP in Sokoto, as influential members of the business community have now joined the ruling APC.
Sarkin Gishiri reaffirmed his unflinching support to the current administration of the people-friendly and prolific Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto for more tangible developmental strides to be massively recorded in the State.
He appreciated the continued support being received from Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko since time immemorial, which he attributed to the successes of his myriad of business activities.
He later declared his total and unalloyed support to APC in the state as well as all the other leaders of the traders in the State.
Earlier in his speech, the former Chairman of the State Traders Association and the current chairman of Sokoto State Chamber of Commerce, Alhaji Ladan Almustapha, told the Senator that all the leadership of Sokoto State Traders Associations have now agreed to join the crusade towards making the politically and economically more formidable.
He commended Sen. Wamakko for his sterling leadership qualities, especially when he was the State Governor, opining those noble virtues were what further reinforced their trust and confidence in the man of the people.
Almustapha extolled the retinue of projects executed by the Ahmad Aliyu-led administration in the state within just two years in office.
In his response, the APC leader in the state, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, expressed gratitude and happiness for the welcome development even as he promised the decampees that they would be equally treated.
He said as leaders, there is no reason not to carry all the traders along, saying now that they have agreed to work together with the current administration in the state, the government will soon come to the immediate rescue of the entire Traders in the state by completing the ongoing renovation of the burnt Sokoto Central Market.
The former Governor of Sokoto State and Senator instantly assured the traders that the state government is planning to provide huge support by giving them financial assistance to boost their businesses and bolster the socio-economic growth of the state.
Sen. Wamakko said that every trustworthy person in the state would testify that Sokoto is being transformed positively under the administration of the consummate Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
He further assured that the current lingering water issues in the state will decisively be addressed, even as he assured that there will be a spike in the capacity of the State Water Board, the supply of potable water as well as its quality.
He challenged the traders for their inactions when the main water pipes were being removed by the PDP-led administration a few years back, which resulted in all the water shortages being experienced in the state.
He, however, assured them that more developmental strides would be witnessed under the leadership of Gov. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto for the Sokoto State to be at par with its contemporaries or even surpass them.
The epochal ceremony was witnessed by many leaders of the state traders associations, notably, Alhaji Bello Bulaki, Alhaji Ibrahim Achida, Alhaji Nasiru Tukur Faru and Alh. Almustapha Ghani Mainiyyo.
Others who were part of the history-making were Alhaji Malami Zamau, Alhaji Falalu Ibrahim Maitakalma, Alhaji Ibrahim Ba ta yima Lamba, Alh. Sanusi Kware, Alhaji Sirajo Ibrahim Maitakalmi, and Alhaji Almu Abdu Maidala, among several others.
