Nineteen traditional rulers comprising district and ward heads in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have resigned their positions and declared their support for Senator Ibrahim Lamido.
The traditional rulers that resigned included ward heads of Sabon Birnin Gabas, Tsilba, Sabon Garin Danbaki, Magajin Dawakin, Dan Faru, Zumbuli, Dawakin, Kanwuri, Hande, Sabon Fegi, Tudun Dankusu and Alhazzai among others.
The leaders at a press conference in Sokoto, said they decided to support the senator because of his drive in curtailing insecurity in their villages.
The mass resignation of traditional titles comes after the resignation of the District Head of Sabon Birni, Abdullahi Muhammad Bawa.
Bawa, in his resignation letter said he resigned his position as district head of Sabon Birni with effect from October 16, 2024.
In the letter which he personally signed, Bawa said he resigned to show solidarity with Lamido who he said showed more concern for the people.
Lauwali Shuaibu, the ward head of Taka-Tsaba, said their decision to drop their titles was in appreciation of Lamido’s commitment towards improving their wellbeing, noting that he “always comes to our rescue whenever bandits attack our people.”
He continued, “Our support will encourage Senator Lamido to continue with the good work he has been doing to our people.”
According to one of the community leaders who vacated their titles, Alhaji Murtala Ubandoman Gobir in Sabon Birnin local government, he said he and many others have relinquished their titles in support of Senator Ibrahim Lamido for his development initiatives and his quest to free the area from the shackles of banditry and kidnappings.
“It’s a well-known fact that Sen Lamido brought Civilian JTF all the way from Maiduguri to fight bandits in Isa and Sabon Birni local government areas worst hit by banditry, and they have been recording success. As communities, we are living comfortably with them.”
“Imagine the majority of our village communities in Sokoto East; after investing so much on our farmlands, we cannot have access to harvest our crops due to banditry.”
“I have paid so many ransoms for my bothers and my family members, and as I am talking to you, my son is in the hands of kidnappers; I have nothing to secure his freedom.”
Also speaking, Jamilu Gwanda Gobir and Lawali Shuabu Taketsaba said their gory tails are the same; they explored the efforts made by the senator to free their Communities from the activities of criminals terrorising their villages.
They both argue that the area has produced a significant number of political office holders and higher-ranking public servants but does not, at any given time, care so much about their welfare and wellbeing as Senator Lamido.
“It’s up to the government to decide whether to dethrone us or allow us to continue as community leaders, but we will continue to support the good wills of the senator. What we are doing is for the benefit of our communities, and we are doing it with their support and cooperation.”
Sokoto has, in recent years, become an epicenter of bandits and terrorist atrocities.
It could be recalled that Senator Ibrahim Lamido and 2 other members of the National Assembly, Sani Alhaji Yakubu and Bello Isah Ambarurah, have recently pitched tents against APC leadership in the state, accusing the party and Governor Ahmed Aliyu of not doing enough in support of internally displaced persons scattered across the state and fighting against banditry.
The three national assembly members from APC have not been seen in the cycle of APC and state government activities, including stakeholder meetings, project commissioning, and many others—a development that left many stakeholders in doubt whether they are still members of the ruling party in the state.
He had recently secured admission and sponsored one hundred youths to study medical and science-related courses in India, most of whom were from weak families and those displaced by banditry in Sokoto East, aside from his numerous education support to students undergoing studies in universities and polytechnics across the country.
The senator, at an event at Skyland Event Centre Sokoto in July this year, empowered 200 women and widows whose husbands and breadwinners were slain by bandits with two hundred and fifty thousand (N250,000) naira each to engage in petty trading that will sustain their families.
His philanthropic acts and acts of patriotism earned him the love and support of communities across Sokoto East, especially his actions after the killing of Sarkin Gobir by his captors a few months ago.