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The Imperatives for Investment and Foreign Partnership for Sokoto State: The Challenge Ahead By
Dahiru Maishanu Sokoto
The sign of a good evening starts from its
sunrise. The northern part of Nigeria has especially suffered more from
wanton neglect and wasteful projects and projections than any other
region in the country. It is also true that the region’s travails came
from within; from its own leaders who have made the region a laughing
stock through irresponsible and pointless policies that instead of
improving the quality of lives, often ended up in eating up the populace
like a plaque.
The region is often referred to as a
dumping ground for all worthless white elephant projects that were only
designed to do one thing; siphon the meagre resources of the
impoverished states of the region. Perhaps, Sokoto, my dear state, is
the most affected in this game of retrogression and back-wheel politics
where the grass always suffered the most; the grass being the masses of
the people.
I have deliberately delayed any write up
until now for strategic reasons. Having been a long standing critic of
the social order especially as it related to Sokoto in the last eight
years and having accepted to serve under the new administration in the
state, one is undoubtedly on the gauging scale of friends and foes
alike. It is therefore anybody’s guess that this writer is aware of
being on the threshold of history and is also not unaware of the
enormous challenges before him as a member of the new administration.
Suffice is to say, he has also carefully weighed his options before
accepting the challenges of public office.
The recent change in the baton of
leadership in Sokoto State came at the most auspicious time after a
long, torturous campaign period that exposed all the lies and deceits of
those who thought they could continue to play with the collective
intelligence of the people; by hook or by crook. The underbelly of the
foul was ironically exposed as the gang of yesterday found themselves
licking their wounds from a fight they had arrogated victory to
themselves even before the first shot was fired.
The present administration has no doubt an
enormous responsibility bequeathed to it especially by the last
administration that swelled itself with an empty pride and a perennial
problem of non performance. The renewed vigour with which the present
administration embraced business investment and foreign cooperation
therefore did not come as a surprise and has likewise been received
with enthusiasm and collective vigour from all and sundry. It is in this
light that this piece is written in order to explore the import of
foreign capital, collaboration and investment to the state.
That, the present Governor has created an
office for Foreign Relations and Special Projects to oversee these
activities has underscored the resolve of the Government in having
fundamental changes that are geared towards socio-political and economic
re-engineering of the state’s entire economic machine. This has further
redefined the mission of governance by reversing the trend where foreign
investments and cooperation were viewed with suspicion and sceptism as
defined by the fetish, ill-educated minds of those who held sway for the
last eight years.
It is also worthwhile to mention that the
State is not unaware of its statutory position as far as foreign
relations are concerned and for the avoidance of doubt, has no intention
of usurping the responsibilities of the Federal Government through the
Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What the state has set up to do
like other states that have similar establishments is to compliment on
what the ministry is doing in order to boost the economic development,
cooperation and collaboration of the state with major players in the
international economic arena with the sole aim of uplifting the economic
status of the ordinary man on the street. The main idea is to maintain,
improve and consolidate the relationships between Sokoto State
Government and other Countries, Regional and International
Organizations, Development partners and specialized agencies.
The mission is therefore to enthrone a
well coordinated balanced, goal-driven and all encompassing approach to
the question of development across relevant sectors of our economy
through the pursuit of people oriented programmes and projects that will
engender the socio-economic transformation of Sokoto state in
collaboration with other countries of the world, development partners
and specialized agencies.
Specifically, the new drive aims to
resuscitate and improve the existing bilateral and multilateral
relationships between the State and other countries of the world and
establish new ones where expedient. This is in addition to improving the
existing economic, social, cultural, political and regional
relationships between the state and other countries within the West
African sub-region. As part of the blueprint for the new department, the
state seeks to ensure the enforcement of pacts and agreements between it
and other countries. This is in addition to exploring avenues for
educational cooperation and training for the benefit of Sokoto State
students abroad.
The geographical location of Sokoto State
at the far end of the North West and directly bordering Niger Republic
is a window of opportunity for the State to explore bilateral relations
that would bring socio-cultural development to both Sokoto and Niger
Republic. Among issues of common concern here are Agriculture and
Commerce.
Although there have been many pacts and
other forms of cooperation and collaboration between Niger Republic and
Sokoto, lack of political will has made it difficult for success to be
achieved. The present cream of leadership is therefore not leaving any
stone unturned in turning the table for positive results in the
relationship between the two neighbours.
Educational exchanges would also be
encouraged primarily between indigenes of both entities as they share
not only a common border, but to a large extent, common religion,
culture and language. What the colonial masters divided through their
divide and rule tactics, will, with the renewed interest in meaningful
foreign relations be reverted and more avenues of cooperation would be
opened.
The issue of desertification is one issue
that has affected many countries bordering to a large extent, the entire
north, including Sokoto. Since the issue is common to the northern
states, Republics of Niger and Chad, a multi-lateral approach is the
best antidote to solving the problem. The problem can only be addressed
collectively with the cooperation of the northern states and those
neighbouring countries through such an instrument like the Directorate
of Foreign Relations as has been done in Sokoto.
Capital inflow and investment
opportunities can be channelled through the newly created Directorate of
Foreign Relations and Special Projects with its array of professionally
trained managers with strategic international managerial experience.
Sokoto State is evidently starting a fresh after escaping from the
dragnet of kleptomaniac adventurers whose minds could only quantify
every action of government in what comes out of it in terms of naira and
kobo. The people of Sokoto have spoken with their votes, only positive
and meaningful development can reciprocate their wise choice. Finally,
it is good to be back on the beat.
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