Ex-Sokoto governor asks for forgiveness

A former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, has unveiled his foundation, “Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa Foundation” with an initial capital of N1 billion naira

The former governor while launching the foundation in Sokoto on Wednesday, in a ceremony held in his house tagged “Giving Back”, said it was part of his way to pay back to the people of the state who gave him the opportunity to serve as two-term governor in the state.

Bafarawa who said he has “mixed feelings each time” he looks back to his years as governor, said thoughts of scenarios of misappropriation of funds through acts of omission or commission could be “troubling” and “prick the conscience”.

Bafarawa said, “I must confess that I entertain some mixed feelings each time I look back to my years as governor. While acknowledging the people’s love and solidarity, I feel that I can do more in the area of giving back to the people.

“As the executive governor of Sokoto State, I was entrusted with the resources of the people.

“Given the enormous powers of an executive governor, the temptation to transgress is always there. It is therefore possible that one may have taken one action or the other that did not serve the best interest of the general public.

“In other words, one could, through acts of omission or commission, misappropriate funds that could have gone into productive and rewarding ventures. Thoughts of scenarios such as this could be troubling.

“They prick the conscience. This situation, in my opinion, calls for restitution. I feel the urge to reconnect in some other ways with the people for a lost opportunity. I consider this necessary in order for one to make peace not only with the people but also with the Almighty.

“This latent sense of missed opportunity is what drives my giving back philosophy. Regardless of whatever effort that I may have made to improve the lot of the people while in office, the fact remains that I, just like any other human being, have my drawbacks.

“I may therefore not have lived up to everyone’s expectation. Consequently, I seek the face of the people afresh in this regard. Personally, I ask for forgiveness, as I have always done, in whatever area I fell short of the people’s expectations.”

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