Following the re-alignment of political forces in Sokoto State ahead of the 2019 general elections, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu has resigned as the State’s Deputy Governor.
Many had patiently awaited Aliyu’s resignation, which took place on Tuesday night, given the irreconcilable political differences with Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who dumped All Progressives Congress (APC) to seek the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential ticket which he eventually lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Port Harcourt.
The sources said the Deputy Governor, who refused to follow Tambuwal to PDP, quietly dropped a copy of his resignation letter with the State House of Assembly’s leadership, which however refused to make the development public with its decision not to read its contents during Tuesday’s plenary session.
However, Forefront gathered that the resignation letter to the State House of Assembly dated November 13, 2018, was formally presented by the Deputy Speaker, Abubakar Magaji, who presided over the Wednesday’s plenary.
In the letter, Aliyu said, “With gratitude to Allah who granted me the opportunity to serve my state, I wish to humbly inform the Assembly of my resignation as deputy governor with effect from November 13, 2018.
“I, therefore, wish to extend my sincere appreciation to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Assembly members and the entire people of Sokoto State for the support accorded me during my service.”
According to insiders, the resignation is not a surprise to many political watchers given the emerging scenarios in the build-up to next year’s gubernatorial elections in the state.
The insiders confirmed that Aliyu, a loyalist of former governor and APC chieftain, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, is exiting the system preparatory to plans already in place to formally kick-start mobilization of stakeholders and outline campaign strategies towards a successful outing at the 2019 polls
While still serving as Tambuwal’s deputy, he defeated four other contestants to emerge APC’s flag-bearer for the 2019 governorship polls during the Party primaries conducted across the country on September 30, 2018.
He is expected to confront the PDP’s candidate, Mannir Dan-iya at the polls though speculations are rife that the nation’s main opposition party is looking to exploit INEC’s substitution window to bring on board Governor Aminu Tambulwal as its flag-bearer in the election.
A product of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, the 48-year-old former Commissioner for Health in Sokoto State had his primary school education at Magajin Rafi Model Primary School Sokoto between 1977 and 1983.
Thereafter, he attended Government Secondary School, Yabo between 1983 and 1989 where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC). He proceeded to the College of Administration, The Polytechnic of Sokoto State and obtained a Clerical Officer’s certificate (Account and Audit) in 1991. From the same institution, he bagged a certificate in Accounts and Audit (CPAA) in 1992.
Still in search of knowledge, Aliyu’s was back in school for a Professional Diploma in Public Account and Audit (DPAA) between 1992 and 1994. From 1995 to 1997, he successfully obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Local Government Studies at the Abdu Gusau Polytechnic Talata Marafa in Zamfara State.
Aliyu currently holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), having obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) from Usmanu Dan-Fodiyo University Sokoto from 2000 to 2001.
