By Emmanuel Ado
“I’ve had many enemies over the years. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s never engage in a fight you’re sure to lose. On the other hand, never let anyone who has insulted you get away with it. Bide your time and strike back when you’re in a position of strength—even if you no longer need to strike back.” — Stieg Larsson, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Although the 2023 general elections have long concluded, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in sokoto state, led by former governor Aminu Tambuwal, continues to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to a fight. This ongoing political battle, largely driven by the bitterness of defeat, was widely anticipated. Tambuwal has bluntly refused to accept that Alhaji Sa’idu Umar, the PDP candidate he backed, lost to Governor Ahmed Aliyu in a decisive contest.
For years, the APC Sokoto State Chapter maintained silence amid persistent misinformation and distortions propagated by former governor Aminu Tambuwal. According to party insiders, that silence was deliberate and strategic and not a sign of weakness or indifference. The party prioritized governance and focused on repairing the “extensive damage” left behind by the Aminu Tambuwal’s administration. However, as the narratives by Tambuwal and the opposition PDP became more aggressive and coordinated, the APC rightly concluded that the time had come to speak up.
As Larsson’s quote implies, retaliation is most effective when executed from a position of strength. That is precisely the strategy that the APC has now adopted. While the people of Sokoto have supported Senator Aliyu Wamakko since 2007, and Governor Ahmed Aliyu, the APC took its time before confronting Tambuwal publicly. Buoyed by the governor’s growing popularity and strong performance, the party now feels confident in addressing the misinformation directly and decisively.
At the core of this confrontation is the APC’s position that Tambuwal is attempting to distort historical records by misrepresenting the legacy of Senator Wamakko, downplaying his own administrative shortcomings, and undermining Governor Aliyu’s achievements. According to the APC, rebuilding a state after what they call “years of administrative neglect” is challenging enough without the added burden of propaganda. When the individual responsible for the damage begins to take credit for the recovery, the truth must be defended and not for political purposes, but for posterity.
The PDP’s approach to opposition, the APC contends, has been anything but constructive. Rather than engaging on policy issues or offering viable alternatives, the opposition has reportedly embraced a strategy rooted in propaganda and falsehoods. Initially, the APC refused to be distracted, choosing to govern quietly. But with the 2027 elections on the horizon, the stakes are too high to ignore the mounting misinformation.
One of the most contentious issues involves Tambuwal’s claims to have initiated or completed several infrastructural projects that he in fact abandoned. The APC maintains that many of these rural and urban roads, water schemes, and educational facilities were not his original ideas. They argue that these projects were conceptualized and executed under Senator Wamakko’s administration, with Tambuwal merely commissioning or rebranding them. As a result, many now refer to him disparagingly as “Mr. Abandon.”
The party is also very critical of Tambuwal’s statements regarding pensions and gratuities. During the 2023 campaign and even during debates in the Senate, Aminu Tambuwal claimed that he had cleared all outstanding pension liabilities. A claim that Governor Ahmed Aliyu has publicly refuted and presented verified records of unpaid retirees and entitlements that were left pending from 2015 to 2023. The figures are troubling,including an estimated 900 pensioners that had reportedly died waiting for their entitlements, a grim statistic that the APC has emphasized in its critique of the previous administration.
To support its position, the APC references findings from a verification committee headed by Alhaji Umar Ahmad Balarabe, who served as Tambuwal’s accountant general but retained by Governor Aliyu’s administration for continuity and credibility. The committee confirmed outstanding liabilities exceeding ₦14 billion. In response, the current administration has released an initial ₦4 billion and committed to a monthly payment of ₦500 million to clear the backlog. And an additional ₦300 million which has been allocated monthly to address new retirees, signaling a structured approach to resolving the crisis.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Sokoto State chapter, has also played a significant role in validating these facts. In May 2023, just before Tambuwal left office, the NLC, under Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu (popularly known as “Jungle”), condemned the administration for a wide range of failures, including delayed salaries, unpaid pensions, and failure to remit deductions. These criticisms were not isolated incidents. Tambuwal’s tenure was marked by recurring labour protests and industrial actions,in eight (8) years of his administration.
Governor Aliyu has also completed many of the projects abandoned by Tambuwal. These include health centers and road infrastructure that were described by Tambuwal’s team as “unviable” or “ill-conceived.” Yet these projects were rooted in clearly identified community needs and were budgeted for during Senator Wamakko’s tenure. The APC argues that Tambuwal’s abandonment of these initiatives had more to do with his political ambitions particularly his presidential aspirations and the breakdown in his relationship with Wamakko, who was instrumental to his emergence as governor.
Another sticking point is Tambuwal’s persistent public denial of the ₦14 billion in unpaid liabilities. Despite evidence to the contrary, he continues to insist that his administration met its obligations. The APC insists that allowing such claims to go unchallenged would not only mislead the public but also create unnecessary confusion over payments now being made by Governor Aliyu. Furthermore, it would diminish the legacies of both Wamakko and the current administration, and undermine transparency.
The role of Balarabe in confirming the figures adds significant weight to the APC’s claims. As someone closely tied to Tambuwal and from the same hometown, Balarabe’s confirmation of the liabilities is seen by many as bureaucratic integrity and one that cuts through the political noise.
The APC believes it is necessary to challenge Tambuwal’s narrative for the sake of historical accuracy. If his version of events were to gain traction unchallenged particularly regarding projects like the Gidan Salenke housing estate it could distort public perception and create long-term reputational problems for the Aliyu administration.
Looking ahead to 2027, the APC is clearly determined to deal the PDP another defeat. Tambuwal’s political future appears increasingly uncertain. Some APC insiders speculate that he might avoid seeking reelection to the Senate in order to protect his record of never losing an election rather than risk the humiliation of defeat.
At its heart, the APC’s battle is not just political it is about accountability and truth. While it is not unusual for former leaders like Aminu Tambuwal to try to burnish their records, the APC contends that they don’t have to exaggerate them, engage in deliberate misinformation, and calculated propaganda. In such cases, silence becomes complicity.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration, having committed substantial resources to correcting past failures and delivering tangible progress, has every right to defend its achievements. Setting the record straight is not merely political it’s a public service. The people of Sokoto deserve transparency: they should know who initiated which projects, who paid outstanding debts, and who left behind what burdens.
In that reckoning, Governor Aliyu’s administration has earned the right not just to respond but, as the facts stand, to have the last word.
