Why Bafarawa’s visit to Wamakko is raising dust

Tongues have continued to wag over the condolence visit of former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, to his successor and staunch political rival, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who lost a nephew recently.

That was the first time Bafarawa was visiting Wamakko since their fallout about 15 years ago. The two were jointly elected as governor and deputy governor in 1999. Their relationship remained cordial until towards the end of their second tenure when they parted ways.

• We’ll not accept anti-party in FCT PDP – Chairman
• Let’s work together to beat our opponents, Ogun APC tells members

Since then, the two have never met in any official function but for their dramatic encounter at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, months ago when they were reported to have traded words.

Some political analysts opined that the recent condolence visit by Bafarawa carried a lot of political undertones because Wamakko had lost many relations, including his daughter and younger brother who was the district head of Wamakko but Bafarawa did not visit to condole him until this time around.

“There could be a hidden agenda to this visit, considering how their bitter feud had lingered since 2007,” one analyst who sought anonymity said.

There was also speculation of possible decamping of Bafarawa from PDP to the Wamakko-led APC to pool resources and maintain relevance in the political scheme of things in the state.

The spokesman of the ruling PDP in the state, Abdullahi Yusuf Hausawa said: “We know Bafarawa, as a leader and former governor of the state, has every right to relate with anybody irrespective of political affiliation and we as a party cannot stop that.

“But the visit has raised a lot of questions to which only his spokesman can provide answers,” he said.

Contacted, the spokesman of Bafarawa, Yusuf Dingyadi, said he could not comment on the matter because he was away from the state.

However, a Wamakko’s political associate, who sought for anonymity denied any political undertones to the visit, saying as a “Muslim, one can condole his fellow brother who is bereaved.”