Since Wednesday, 24 November 2010 miscreants had been let loose in every corner of Sokoto city. They chanted songs of anticipated victory by Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) at the Supreme Court come 26 November 2010.  Some shop owners were threatened with eviction on imminent DPP court victory.  Prominent institutions and personalities had been marked for terrible fates.  The reorganization of the Sultanate Council and possible removal of the incumbent Sultan had been perfected in rumour mills that pervaded Sokoto city.

            Interestingly, and as usual, the press became platform for arm twisting of the Supreme Court judges.  One writer under the guise of Helen Agbo in the Sun of 23 November 2010 called the Supreme Court “temple of Supreme injustice” on an article titled “Supreme Court on trial”.  Such articles were meant to elicit empathy of the apex court towards the rampaging Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).  The same old story that stood facts on their heads was reenacted to sensitize the Nigerian judiciary against Governor Wamakko and PDP in Sokoto.  Curiously none of the writers paid any attention to the yearnings of majority voters that coasted Governor Wamakko to power.  The central issue remained power to them at all cost, ignoring sociological factors that should be weighted in adjudication.

            The D-day, 26 November 2010 has come and insinuations and incitements are now laid to rest as the Supreme Court has proved the accusation of creation of anarchy and confusion in the judiciary by DPP.  In the cause of stretching technicalities DPP succeeded in judicial blunders that only tended to heat up Sokoto polity.  They have tried destabilization activities to remove Governor Wamakko.  They planned massive destruction of lives and property; mayhem they crafted to create disaffection against the government.  At a stage they targeted non-indigenes under the guise of religious crisis that would snowball into massive destruction that should call for declaration of state of emergency.

            But, the question on the lips of responsible citizens of the State is whether these men are truly Muslims.  A good muslim believes that power belongs to Allah.  He gives and takes.  When one tries to gain power and it slips there should be repositioning for another opportunity.  The victorious person must have been ordained by Allah to govern at that particular period.  Therefore, whoever engages in endless struggle against the victor is fighting against Allah’s ordination.  We had consistently enjoined that opposition stands better chance to grab power if they re-strategize.  The vendetta rampage of DPP only heats up the polity unnecessarily.  It even weakens sympathy and opportunity for their future political relevance.

            There are fundamental issues that trail the Sokoto political equation now.  The public cannot ignore the fact that those DPP stalwarts fighting vehemently to remove Governor Wamakko are the same persons standing trial on alleged embezzlement of N15 billion Sokoto State Funds.  This case is being prosecuted by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).  It appears the apologists of DPP are desperate to cover up this case by inching for avenues of providing political immunity that would scuttle the case, against Sokoto people whose money is at stake.  Moreover, this is a party that virtually does not exist in Sokoto State now. Its founder and financier, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, has decamped with his supporters to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

            We wonder the type of rights organization that should champion the cause of corrupt enrichment, especially embezzlement of funds meant for educational development!  We are yet to hear comments of the legal luminaries constantly cited, on the desperation for power by persons indicted on corruption by the nation’s anti-graft agency (EFCC).  Though still on trial can suspects be accessed to path of torpedoing justice?  That is exactly the quest of DPP apologists who unwittingly have become morally bankrupt and myopic in the analysis of Sokoto politics.

            We still maintain that it is not in the character of Muslims to engage in endless power struggle for its sake.  We know that all the destabilization activities were meant to divert Governor Wamakko’s attention from providing democracy dividends to the people.  They had insinuated incompetence against Governor Wamakko, but the monumental development projects executed by the Governor stimulates restlessness in them as having no immediate opportunity to come to power.  These projects are located in every nook and cranny of the State.  They have spurred immeasurable impact and appreciation on the masses.  The electorate that overwhelmingly voted Governor Wamakko to power now congratulate themselves for wise decision, and everywhere there are resounding calls for him to re-contest during the coming elections.  He is now called the peoples governor because he has touched the lives of the grassroots.

            We must commend the untiring efforts of all security agencies in Sokoto who lived up to expectation. They ensured that hoodlums were not let loose to wreak huge havoc on innocent citizens.  Their interventions continue to provide necessary safety and freedom of movement for citizens who are not even involved in politics, but remain targets of these miscreants to turn the unsuspecting public against the government of Sokoto State under Governor Wamakko.  We call for truce that DPP should realize a binding religious faith in Allah’s opportune time.   

The piece was originally titled:Unislamic Vendatta of DPP.

Mohammed S. Umar is President ,Sokoto Liberal Democrats Media Foundation (SOLID).He can be reached  by  email: Sokotosolid2007@yahoo.com