By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
SOKOTO, Nigeria – In a scathing indictment of his eight-year tenure, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has been publicly condemned by political constituents from his own local government area for what they term a “shameful neglect” of his homeland. The startling accusations emerged during a significant mobilisation meeting in Sokoto metropolis on Thursday, orchestrated by the Contact Mobilisation and Enlightenment Forum for the incumbent Governor, Ahmed Aliyu.
The forum, based in Tambuwal Local Government Area (LGA)—the very heart of the former governor’s political base—levelled the severe criticism, alleging that Senator Tambuwal failed to execute any visible developmental project for his people whilst in office. This narrative, fiercely promoted by the state’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), presents a stark contrast to the legacy they are building for the current administration.
A Gathering of Grievance and Enlightenment
Addressing the assembly, the Vice Chairman of the forum, Faruk Dayyabu, outlined the meeting’s dual purpose. Primarily, it aimed to harness the vast human resources embedded within the youth and broader population of Tambuwal LGA. Furthermore, Dayyabu emphasised a mission to cultivate a healthier political culture.
“It is to also assist the youths, women and children to understand that politics is not violent, not bitterness and should not be used as a means of dividing their brotherly love,” he stated, advocating for unity and respect for leadership as cornerstones of democratic participation. The forum extended its appreciation to Governor Ahmed Aliyu for the “deep love and respect” shown to Tambuwal LGA, a gesture they claim was conspicuously absent under their own son’s governance.
APC Leadership Lambasts Tambuwal’s Record and 2027 Ambitions
The event provided a platform for the Sokoto State APC Chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Isa Achida, to deliver a forceful broadside against Senator Tambuwal’s record and his perceived national political manoeuvrings. Achida expressed unwavering confidence in Governor Aliyu’s capacity, citing his “excellent performance thus far.”
He then turned his focus to the former governor. “Former governor, now Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, neglected his hometown as no visible project was carried out there within the eight years of his reign as governor,” Achida asserted, framing the period as one of profound local disappointment.
Achida also addressed rumours of Tambuwal’s involvement in forming a new political movement to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections, a prospect he met with open derision. “I can’t but laugh aloud,” he said, dismissing the speculated coalition as “old wine in a new bottle.”
“They claim to be a new movement, but the people are not new to us. They are the same politicians who failed our state and country in the past,” Achida noted, characterising the effort as a futile exercise involving recycled elites.
Incumbent’s Actions Presented as Corrective Leadership
In a deliberate juxtaposition, Chairman Achida and other high-ranking officials meticulously catalogued the Aliyu administration’s investments in Tambuwal LGA. They portrayed Governor Aliyu, who hails from Dange-Shuni LGA, as a leader prioritising even the home turf of his predecessor where the latter allegedly did not.
This sentiment was powerfully echoed by Hon. Aminu Haliru Dikko, the Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmed Aliyu. Dikko presented a poignant account of perceived political debt left unpaid. “The people of Tambuwal Local Government have supported Aminu Waziri Tambuwal’s political journey over the last three decades but have not been adequately compensated as expected,” he stated.
He urged all politicians to reciprocate electorate support with tangible gestures proactively, rather than cyclically during elections. Illustrating the current administration’s approach, Dikko detailed a transformative agenda for Sokoto State, inviting any observer to “attest to the tremendous transformation taking place across the entire state, which is proof of good governance.”
The quantifiable commitments to Tambuwal LGA were presented as undeniable evidence of this new ethos. Dikko revealed that Governor Aliyu has appointed 83 indigenes of Tambuwal into prominent positions, including commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries, and board members. Furthermore, he stated that over 8,000 individuals in the LGA had benefited from direct financial support exceeding ₦100,000 each through various empowerment schemes.
A Unified Front and a Deference to Party Hierarchy
When probed on future political ambitions, the Chief of Staff demonstrated a disciplined adherence to party structure, deferring to the authority of the party’s state leader, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. “All members of the party take whatever step directed by our leader and father… whose wise counsel has continued to make us grow from strength to strength,” Dikko declared, underscoring the APC’s consolidated front in Sokoto.
This unity was reiterated by all senior political figures from Tambuwal LGA present, including the council chairman and the Commissioner for Higher Education. They unanimously projected confidence that the APC would prevail in future elections, both in Sokoto and nationally, on the strength of its delivered and visible good governance.
Analysis: A Strategic Political Narrative in Sokoto State
This very public denunciation signifies a potent political strategy by the Sokoto APC. By catalysing criticism from within Tambuwal’s own community, the party seeks to dismantle the former governor’s local legacy and invalidate his moral authority to critique the current state government. It frames the 2023 gubernatorial transition not merely as a change of personnel, but as a corrective shift from neglect to proactive, inclusive development.
The emphasis on appointments and grassroots empowerment directly targets the socio-economic aspirations of the electorate, offering a concrete counterpoint to the allegations of past emptiness. As the political landscape begins to stir ahead of the 2027 cycle, such forums are crucial for setting narratives, consolidating support, and challenging the foundations of potential opposition.
The coming months will reveal how Senator Tambuwal and his associates respond to these pointed allegations from his home front, and whether the APC’s narrative of transformative leadership under Governor Ahmed Aliyu continues to resonate across Sokoto State’s political terrain.
