Attahiru Bafarawa, a former two-term governor of Sokoto State, has claimed that nearly two decades after leaving office the people of the state highly adore him.
Between 1999 and 2007, Bafarawa served as Sokoto State governor. He contested for presidential elections under PDP in 2007 and 2019.
In an interview with The Punch, Bafarawa argued that his antecedents while in office endeared him in the hearts of the state’s people.
Bafarawa maintains that Sokoto citizens are in a better position to explain why they still love, respect and believe in him.
He says in the interview that throughout his political career, he has proven to the people of Sokoto that he is a trustworthy person who can be trusted with a public responsibility.
Bafarawa said his performance in office was beyond the expectations of the electorate in Sokoto State.
“While I was Sokoto State Governor, I did a lot to the people’s satisfaction. That’s why they still love me; they still respect me; I also believe that the answer should still come from them,” he said.
VERIFICATION
In verifying this claim, WikkiTimes used human intelligence. Five citizens of Sokoto State belonging to different social classes were interviewed over the phone.
“Contractors are jittery to receive funding under Bafarawa because he does not let them rest until projects are delivered,” Hassan Mohammed, a resident of Magajin-Garin Sokoto, told Wikkitimes.
Anas Mohammad, a native of Shagari LGA, said that Bafarawa is a generous public servant Sokoto has ever produced.
“Bafarawa worked for Sokoto so much so that he became the only political godfather of the state. And, perhaps, this makes him believe that he can make anyone to be governor of Sokoto State,” Mohammad said.
Most citizens of the state look up to Bafarawa as the architect of modern Sokoto, having laid a solid background for the current gigantic infrastructure the state boasts of. He constructed several roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals and provided electricity to communities.
Similarly, natives of Sokoto see Bafarawa as a trustworthy person who keeps to his word as a leader who does not joke about anything that concerns public interest.
VERDICT
The claim by a former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, that people of the state still love and respect him for his meritorious service to the state is true.
A Sokoto All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart who does not want to be quoted said Bafarawa is a father to them.
Idris Kamal Ibrahim is a dedicated reporter with WikkiTimes, specialising in fact-checking, investigative journalism, and solutions-focused reporting. His commitment to uncovering the truth and addressing societal issues in Northern Nigeria has earned him several prestigious journalism fellowships, highlighting his expertise and impact in the field.
