APC, nPDP leaders celebrate Sokoto varsity

                         

FOR SOKOTO UNIVERSITY—From left: Governors Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Sule Lamido (Jigawa ); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu; Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and the Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal after the official opening of the newly constructed Sokoto State University, Sokoto, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

The Sokoto State University was commissioned yesterday in an atmosphere that was coloured with thick political undertones. The event was witnessed by leaders of the All Progressive Congress, APC and the new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP who had former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and four of the G7 governors present besides the factional PDP national chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje. The supervisory minister of Education, Mr. Wyesom Wike was absent and there were no prominent Federal Government officials present in the commissioning ceremony that also drew former President Shehu Shagari and two former military heads of state, General Muhammadu Buhari and General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Also present at the commissioning of the university and other projects embarked upon by the Governor Aliyu Wamakko administration was the representative of President Ahamadou Yousouf of Niger Republic who was represented by the country’s Minister of Education, Mamadou Diallo and the governor of Tawa State in Niger Republic, Alhaji Salihu Barmo.

Prominent officials of the APC present at the commissioning performed by former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar were General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande among others.

Leaders of the nPDP present included the factional national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Atiku Abubakar, governors of of Adamawa, Kano, Rivers and Jigawa states namely, Murtala Nyako, Musa Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi, Sule Lamido respectively. Also present was the national secretary of the nPDP, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Yesterday was the first time that President Shagari met with Buhari in a public ceremony in Sokoto.

For the first time in Sokoto, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari met former President Shehu Shagari at the venue of the inauguration.

The effort of the Wamakko administration was praised by most of the dignitaries at yesterday’s inauguration. While General Abdulsalami praised the efforts of the administration, he called for harmony in the country saying that “Peaceful coexistence is an important ingredient and basis for development.”

Governor Amaechi on his part stressed the importance of education just as Sultan Sa`ad Abubakar pledged that the stakeholders would ensure that the university does not close down for one hour because of a strike action.

Atiku on his part stressed that no community or nation can develop without education.

Further commendation for the project came from Speaker Aminu Tambuwal who led the Sokoto State delegation to the National Assembly to the inauguration of the new university.

In his address at the ceremony, Governor Wamakko blasted critics of his development projects saying that the commissioning had shamed those that had in the past taken turns to hit at his administration’s developmental projects.

“Today by the grace of God, we are here to celebrate what some people were pessimistic about.”