As Sakkwatawa Break Their Fasting Along With The Mercenary Writers!!

By

Yusuf Dingyadi

dingyadimedia@yahoo.com

Few days ago into the greatest month of Ramadan one of the holy among the months in the Islamic calendar. Some places in Sokoto State are now joined into having free meals of breaking of fast. The first time in history, some Sakkwatawa were starting the holy month with some new alien culture initiated by the hired government Ulamas, known in Sokoto as great Sheikhs, that have substituted the moral preaching into another venture of coordinating free meals services.   

The stories goes since time ago after Governor Bafarawa handed power to the incumbent Governor of Sokoto state Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, some of my friends that were in the present government, approach me in my office at Sokoto town, requesting me to come back home, meaning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as according to them, I was supposed to be on sabbatical journey to the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

They gave me their reasons which are best known to them, meaning it’s now or never, for me to come back in their fold, so that all things equal, they promised me of a certain role in the government of the day.

Although, I respected them, my answer to them, is very open and too irritating to bear, on the sense that they couldn’t convince me the reason of asking me to join them now, after being privy to all my reasons of not going together with them in the first place.

Later, I found out that, they were on assigned mission of recruiting some well known handy people in the press, that can be use for the dirty job of protecting the interests and providing PR services to the in coming government in the near future.

I also learned from the sources LATER, that the mission after leaving my office failed. As the intended motives is to make me part of the main arrow of their contacts, because of my good understanding with the outside world, according to their projection.

But till today, their mission didn’t end well, giving the details of privileged information that got to me, as soon as they made their move, well it was not classified matter, nobody should shout national security matters.

That was then, almost 100 days now. My best reason of rejecting the offer is only on my principle and reasons; I rejected the offer right away and begged them not to approach me on this. I am not job seeker neither apologist of the government.

Le me not digress about the search of peace in my state and rejection of hiring outsiders to promote discomfort as this write up intended. 

Since the advent of Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko’s government in Sokoto state, the state become relatively disorganized in terms of peace and political tolerance.

Most of this unrest was created as result of political vengeance missions by those in power in Sokoto state supported by the governor against his opponents. The issue has reach to an alarming stage, in which even the law enforcement agents have turned their heads away by not arresting or prosecuting the suspects.

Police who are supposed to be the guardian of law and order among all are becoming the tools in the hand of state government, who were used to intimidate the opposition to the extend they flee their residents in anticipating attacks, all this in the name of politics.

Another issue is the critics of government who were branded names, just to give the legitimacy of attacking or maiming them. Some were invited to Police headquarters, for the details of their source of information. Then if the same opposition complained, nobody will investigate such, turning the state into pariah among the peaceful places in the country, the state become a place where jungle justice is the order of the day.

All these and many more are the great happening in Sokoto state as we celebrates and mark the hundred days of Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko’s administration in Sokoto state. This are all part of democracy dividends that were shared among the good, the bad and the ugly of our political populace of Sokoto state.

The other  issue of celebration into 100 days is the current happening in which state government recruited some outsiders to be the vanguard of writing positively on their activities because they have lost confidence on some state based Journalists.

Most of the information going round in Sokoto today is over these mercenary writers, who are seen according to the available information, that they have mastered the art of pen in serving the government as 'MERCENARY WRITERS'.

They will be writing everything black and white by creating fictions issues of sympathy on the elites, laundering the image of the present government, by putting negative assertion and misleading facts in their write-up against past immediate government of Sokoto state.

Over 13 were reported to have secured government approval for this job, they include drop-out journalists some local and international correspondents from the selected media out-fits, residing in Sokoto state (That were using pen name) and some that were sacked or have no ethical consciousness and training and still practising the noble profession are part of those engaged on the state government pay roll.

Therefore, what is happening is very alarming warranting an urgent attention to caution the present government in making a mistake, that will not only destroy the good name of the state, but image and respect of the founding fathers of Sokoto state. 

Part of the job of these writers according to sources, include writing against the past government of Bafarawa, creating misleading information on activities that have no relation with his tenure and subjected them on his government.

Majority of the writers were coordinated through a joint special fund managed and created by the individuals inside the government and some fund from the government house. They were contacted through a different fixed meeting at Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto states respectively.

Last of their meeting is in the beginning of this September at a particular secured place in one of the popular northern state’s lodge, Kaduna. After the particular meeting, discussion were on modalities of method to be use in giving credit to the Wamakko’s administration after 100 days celebration, through some dailies.

Majority of this selected dailies are drawn from the south and only two were from the north.

What is more annoying in this plan, is that majority of this writers have never being to Sokoto state, some have no knowledge of what does Sokoto look like. Some few that have knowledge are also partisan.        

They will be giving different information to propagate outside, the situation that is not the true happening. They will deprive people from the true information of happening in their state. All this are motivated for propaganda of destabilizing the truth and creation of disharmony, abnormity and confusion among the populace in the state.

Worst of it at the end are the people of the state, because they are the receiving end, it was their state and resources that have subjected to ridicule in the outside world.

Majority of these mercenary writers are coming far from this culture and religious background. They have different beliefs in religious and cultural heritage. Theirs is only to have the money, not for the love or welfare of developmental activities of Sokoto people.

Worst on this PR project, it was finance by the private account of the government known only by few in government. Another issue is that majority of these writers, were said to have made various financial demands from the intermediary of the Wamakko’s government. 

The money which was promised to come before end of this month, are to give them all the necessary supports to actualized their aims and mission on writing lies against the person of Governor Bafarawa, his government through tarnishing his image and some individuals that have served the government diligently and meritoriously.

Weather these hired people are to succeed or not, the important challenge ahead of Wamakko is to remember that not only castigating the past government by using sycophants to create an illusion on the mind of unsuspected innocent people of Sokoto state is a success, but facing his problem of excess luggage which he is carrying now.

The future of Sokoto state will never stand on him and it will never end on him too. The reality about his government is well known to all that is mission of vengeance and political intimidation to opponents.

He is aware that if people of Sokoto state are to given right to say their opinion or assess his government in these 100 days, they will perhaps give him poor rating. His style in administering the people is too rough and not acceptable, as vengeance, killing, political thuggery and violence were taking the leads in the past days.

Why should he bring those writers to give him assessment, what are the work of his people. Does he think nobody in Sokoto can give him fair judgment about his administration?

It is well known facts that no one can claim he know Sokoto better than people of Sokoto state. So let people of Sokoto state without fixed or pen names, write in the national dailies commending your 100 days in government that will serve better.

Writing commendation on a sponsored advertorials or give self pass mark with the name that differ in the library of our names is misleading, some of this names are not in Sakkwatawa’s vocabulary they are more less imported.

How can you put a language that people don’t understand and claim success in the welfare of the people?

Using government resources to sponsored write-up on our national dailies will only exposed the problem and the government failure in term of provision of social amenities.

Another issue of contention is the involvement of Ulamas into the politics and decision making of the government. Wamakko's government have shown its future plan of destabilising the revered Sokoto Ulamas by dangling the carrots of power on them. Some Ulamas have accepted to serve government openly by taking juicy appointment.

These were the same Ulamas that participated fully into politics of accusation and branding the past government of Bafarawa as Shiites government and misled the people, against it all in the name of religion.

Today they were seen around the corridor of power in Government house, cabinet office or personal residences of the power brokers in Sokoto, chasing contracts and appointments on their spouses and children all in the name of religion. 

They include Malam Bello Yabo and Sheikh Abubakar Jibrin Chief Imam of Farfaru Mosque. The two Ulamas are the known leading campaigners in branding the Bafarawa and Maigari Dingyadi's as Shiites sponsored candidates before and during last general elections.

Malam Bello Yabo is now the Special Adviser on Feeder Roads while Sheikh Jibrin headed the most widely Ramadan  feeding Committee in Sokoto state.

The Wamakko still did not address issue of water scarcity in the metropolis after the three month period promise. Some areas in the state capital, spend days without provision of portable drinking water. Also Hundreds if not some thousands of our graduates roams the streets daily and there was no employment?

Then issue of our traders that are still leaving in a make-shift shelters, after their market was completed and handed over to government over hundred and ten days today, and the only information is that government is making progress.

What type of progress and achievements Wamakko’s government recorded in term of people welfare? as the same government have failed to allow traders move inside the new renovated market, long after Bafarawa’s government handed it over?

How many students of Sokoto State origin that are in the tertiary institutions across the country who were assisted in term of scholarship fund, few days back some students returned home complaining about  scholarship and their welfare?

Does providing Kunu and Kosai for the fasting period are the only thing of joy into celebrating 100 days to power in Sokoto state, or is it in the culture of our people to assembled less privileged by giving them Kunu and Kosai, not making the enough provision to their siblings at home?

Why they can not consults Malam Ahmed Yarima and Shekarau of Kano for orientation and training of how they succeeded in giving such sadaka, if at all they mean business, rather than importing alien culture, that is not befitting to the orientation and hard work people of Sokoto state.

Or Sule Lamido is available on line to give his free consultancy advise on how to solve issue of Social security, rather than distribution of free Kunu and kosai that have consumed millions of naira budget of Sakkwatawa. 

Who will abandon his house to just to go and join the spree of taking free kunu and kosai for the breaking of fast? Is it how Bafarawa and other governors of Sokoto state succeeded? Haba Alu, save us please.

Let people be oriented to know their value, respect by given them employment, it is the big measure for security and peace not sponsoring and spending huge monies on a failed venture. 

You are potting our brothers and sisters lives in risk project, because sooner it will fail. Who can agree to queue and be shown on the Rima Television programme that he is waiting to be served with Kunu and kosai? 

What are the amounts of money spend by the state government in bankrolling this Sheikh Abubakar Jibrin’s one man plan in Sokoto south and north?

We are waiting to hear from our distinguished Mercenary Writers on the possible advantage and success of this project, how it will benefit the lowest population of over four millions people of Sokoto state.

Government should face more serious business in promoting peace and understanding among our people.

The challenge is certainly not only intimidating to Wamakko’s government but too big to take lightly. Administrating people with trust and confidence is not only conniving with Obasanjo to steal people mandate but bringing understanding, confidence and respect.

Wamakko should remember that if he can not differentiate between right and just to the good people of Sokoto state whom he continuously acclaimed to have their mandate, surely one day his government will be adjudged as the worst government, ever happen in the history of Sokoto state.

Let him know the big shoes he found now in the lodge road office. Bafarawa's programmes during the last eight years into power are more seen as programme that have direct bearing to the people. They were the policy that make the state to be relatively peaceful and develops in all the aspect of human endeavour.

The very funny to remember in our Governor’s 100 days celebration in Sokoto state, is the 100 days of political turmoil followed by 13 billions naira politics, revokes of land titles, suspension of all past government awarded contracts including the stoppage of legitimate payments of retention fees to the sympathised opposition contractors that have completed and handed over their projects.

Others are demolition of opponent’s structure, change of institution's name, detention of some opponents of government without due process by the controlled judiciary and general postings of unqualified (highly grades) civil servants from the rank and file of Messengers up to the Permanent Secretaries. their mistake is they have taken different ways with the government of today. What irony!

More ever, we remember some funny names in our new Sokoto state courtesy of newspapers they include Isah Kamarawa, Inno Kamarawa. John Ade, Jim Bello, Moses Sadauki, Isah Sani and Luba Ladan all are the masterful thought list from the table of good thinkers of lodge road they sang one song in the celebration of 100 days of Sai Alu or Abashi  A huta!

Wamakko spend most of 100 days better than any governor, because of his choice in having a secure and un disturbed environment of operation, outside the state, either in Kebbi, Zamfara, Abuja or Kaduna, and all the day our best reliable and trusted local station the unrepentant state government owned Rima Radio will christened the announcement of our bulleting that as Official Assignment, indeed!

My biggest and honest advice on him after the 100 days in office celebration is over, that he should stay home and face the challenge of the government services.

He is about becoming one of the most truant governors, of this time Sokoto state ever known. Just last week we were told that he travelled to Libya. Now, as the beginning of this fasting no one can predict his next ports. if you can, say Saudi Arabia, please!

He should also forget about those hired writers and concentrate on service delivery in Sokoto state. Let him face the challenge of legitimizing the stolen mandate at the election tribunal; which all things equal is giving judgment on the 3^rd day of October, some days after the nation’s independence celebration.

It was this day, people of Sokoto state may confidently agree with the independent of judiciary, that will enhance their image. But before that period, let Wamakko be just and caution with the history.   He is facing many challenges some that can make him awake all the nights. Asha ruwa lafiya Gwamna!!