February 12, (THEWILL) — A group of concerned citizens of Sokoto state has called on statutory agencies to be wary of political colluding in the investigation of Sen. Aminu Tambuwal and other past government officials of Sokoto state.
The group, Sokoto Progressive Vanguards, made the call in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon Yusha’u Musa Alkanci, on Wednesday in Sokoto.
The group urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Police and the Department State Services (DSS), not to dance to the tune of desperate politicians on incriminating Tambuwal and his associates.
“The presentation made by the judicial commission of inquiry contains allegations against Tambuwal’s administration, we look forward adherence to transparent legal procedures.
“It was widely circulated that the present administration of Gov. Ahmad Aliyu joined hands with some groups and individuals who nursed political differences with Tambuwal, discrediting almost all his good stewardship when he was governor of Sokoto state.
“The desperation was glaring to the public noticing the propaganda and other unfounded information being circulated to tarnish the image of the immediate past administration of Tambuwal at all cost.
“We notice the anomaly from the initial stage of the commission of inquiry under Justice Muazu Pindiga sittings, which was elongated from two weeks to more than three years and composition of members”, the group said.
According to the group, infractions being investigated should go beyond Tambuwal’s administration as he inherited many issues from the government that came before him.
“We consider stagnating the investigation between 2015 to 2023 as aberration of justice and undermining the procedure of fear play and justice because a petition was pending before EFCC of past governor before Tambuwal.
“We understand the present administration of Gov. Ahmad Aliyu concentrates only on discrediting the good services of Tambuwal rather than doing good projects to the citizens of Sokoto state, hence hiring a former disgraced judge to do their bidding of politically motivated inquiry.”
The forum further noted that there is no justification for the state government hurriedly going to the media without reaching the final stage of its so-called commission of inquiry’s assignment, ignoring due process and rule of law pertaining to issues of financial spending of past administration.
“The issues highlighted desperation, political bitterness, political persecution and witch-hunt of Tambuwal’s administration by the state government; particularly using rumours, political slanders and unfounded information to accuse Ex-Gov. Tambuwal and his associates on wrong doings, rather than pursuing the interest of the state’s development, insecurity challenges and economic development”, the group added.
Tunde Omolehin is an award-winning Journalist with prose in investigative and storytelling that is connecting the dots between the under-reported communities and policymakers to ensure good governance and accountability.
