A former governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa on Tuesday donated N1 billion to the people of the state to help cushion the effects of hardship in the state.
The donation was disclosed through a statement made available to LEADERSHIP on Tuesday.
At the event organised by the Attahiru Bafarawa Foundation, Bafarawa said the donation was in appreciation of the trust and confidence the people of the state had for him by voting him into office to serve as their governor for eight years.
He said the donation was a give back to the people, adding that there was no other time to give back to the people than now that hunger and hardship were ravaging the land.
“At no time can this giving back philosophy of mine be more auspicious and compelling than now that the people are passing through hard times occasioned by the harsh economic climate in the country. It is against this background that I have decided to make available the sum of N1 billion for the welfare and wellbeing of the people of Sokoto State.
He added that the management of the fund has been entrusted to a committee that he personally set up.
“The committee is headed by Alhaji Lawal Maidoki (Sadaukin Sokoto) who is known throughout the country for his acumen, experience and honesty in dealing with issues of similar nature, especially distribution of zakka and waqafi. Alhaji Maidoki will be assisted in this assignment by equally trusted members drawn from different strata of society.
“As I noted earlier, I am making this modest contribution to the people of Sokoto State as a way of filling the gaps I left while in office. I will continue to pray to the Almighty to seek his forgiveness in whatever way I may have gone astray. May the Almighty help, guide and direct us in this noble task of giving back to the people,” Bafarawa said.