By Abdallah el-Kurebe
There are strong indicators that the Sokoto state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will continue to be rich following what now seems to be serious competition amongst governorship aspirants.Henceforth funds may no longer be the party’s problem given the naira rain witnessed in Sokoto
But,the situation does not however suggest that the house is in order and the aspirants united for the anticipated strength of the party in the state.
Though the occasion was aimed at receiving caretaker committee members of the party, former governor and PDP chieftain in the state, Attahiru Bafarawa presented a cheque of N10 million and donated seven Peugeot cars for the party.
Shortly after Bafarawa’s gift to the party, it was announced that Sen. Abubakar Gada, Sen. Abdullahi Wali, Yusuf Suleiman and Mukhtari Shagari, deputy governor, pledged N1 million each.
Not contented, Shagari told the gathering that although he was not privy to the arrangement, he would redeem the pledge but added, “Every month until the caretaker committee completes its assignment, I will be giving N2 million to the party and will also give a 16-seater bus for use by the committee.”
In a matter of minutes, Sen. Gada said the he would be giving the party N3 million every month and a car for the security committee of the PDP. Shagari and Gada were the two governorship aspirants present at the occasion.
Bafarawa called on members of the party to unite for the progress of the party. “Everyone should first be a party member and work for the strength of the party before he thinks of becoming an aspirant.”
On Wednesday, March 19th the PDP in the state received 16 members of the caretaker committee. Alhaji Abdullahi Shantali Bida from Niger state and Musa Garba Gusau from Zamfara state are Chairman and Secretary of the caretaker committee.