By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto
The politicization of issues of insecurity/banditry in Sokoto state over time, has been bothering all well meaning citizens who desire peace to reign in the Caliphate. Of concern particularly, is the utter desperation by some attention- seeking elements who seek to apportion blame on their perceived political opponents as the sponsors of such heinousness on humanity.
The facts by Kabiru Umar Sokoto further said, happily, the criticizers have been failing in their bid to adduce cogent and reasonable reasons to back their accusations with verifiable facts, but merely hinging on the self verdict they formed of their foes to trick their followers/audience. This appears a lean on deception which breeds hate and disaffection within the ranks of the society. It’s sad to succumb to the rough paths of politics to judge selfishly and unfairly.
The question often goes: Where is the pleasure in purveying baseless and unfounded claims about one whom I didn’t share the same political track with?
Toeing along the line of mischief for ulterior motives degrades fame and causes the wrath of the Supreme Being to settle on the traducer. It’s however great knowing, no one in their right senses could believe the spurious allegations, leaders in Sokoto state are the masterminds of acts of banditry in eastern part of the state. The architects of such malicious spit are perhaps capitalizing on the restraint and humane disposition of the political leader (governor) and the head of traditional institution (Sultan) to be misguiding the gullible members of society on issues of insecurity in Sokoto state.
The civilization in the people at the moment is at its peak, and therefore cannot be brainwashed into believing either their governor or the spiritual head associate with or sanctioning the banditry plaguing the eastern zone of Sokoto state. Nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, the modest contributions/achievements of the government of Sokoto state towards addressing the nagging problems are glaring for all to behold.
Provision of at least 500 operational vehicles in aid of security agencies operating within the state from inception of the administration to date, as well as motorcycles at interval of times lifts the scorecards of the government on security in the eyes of fair minded citizens. Again, the administration provided the structures, the 8 Division of the Nigeria Army at
Kalambaina area in Sokoto is currently inhabiting. Its recent donation of 10 Hilux vehicles and 500 hundred motorcycles to Vigilante Group of Nigeria Sokoto state chapter, yet underscored in clear terms, the genuine resolve to fight against banditry and other criminal activities in the state.
Not only the aforesaid supports, governor Aminu Tambuwal had sometime in 2020 visited the President as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, who has the constitutional powers and who had sworn to protect lives and property of the citizenry to intimate him on the appalling security situation in the eastern part of Sokoto state. That visit afforded the governor the opportunity to lay bare before Mr. President, the needs of the people in terms of deployment of more service personnel to tame the growing security imbroglio afflicting zone. The same tone was echoed by the governor to the President during his recent visit to him. It’s all about something to be done urgently to reverse the nasty situation.
Calls for new strategies in the onslaught against criminal elements, recruitment of new personnel, procurement of modern weaponry, incentives/welfare packages to boost morale of the serving troops at the battlefields constituted some of the suggestions of the governor during the two meetings with the President. Hearts are stained not to have believed the governor on this yeoman’s service.
The unbending commitment of the governor to ridding not only the eastern parts of Sokoto state but the entire north west states of insecurity using the available arsenals of interface at his disposal can’t be contested. This is the sincere testimony of Tambuwal’s counterpart, El- Rufa’i of Kaduna state in one of his commiseration visits to the state. Is this not adequate to dismiss the factless and vituperative rants on the governor on issues of insecurity in the state?
Peddlers of bad information include, therefore those who engaged in the vicious insinuations the governor pampers bandits and their activities and without proof to underpin their venomous thirst to nail at all cost.
Good minds feel, what is of significance now, is for all those who wish Sokoto state and other troubled parts of the country well is to spare time in fervent intercessory prayers for the Almighty Creator to deliver the space of all challenges besetting it and not a resort to wicked politicization of the security issues for political gains.
