Attahiru Bafarawa
Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa | |
---|---|
Governor of Sokoto State | |
In office 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007 |
|
Preceded by | Rufai Garba |
Succeeded by | Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko |
Personal details | |
Born | 4 October 1954 |
Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa (born 4 October 1954) was governor of Sokoto State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.[1]
Early career
He was a local government councillor in charge of Education. In 1979, he ran unsuccessfully for election to the House of Representatives on the platform of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP). He was a member of the National Constitutional Conference of 1994–1995, during the military rule of Sani Abacha. He was a founding member of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP – 1997) and the All People's Party (APP – 1998).[2]
Governor of Sokoto State
In 1999 he was elected governor of Sokoto State on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and was re-elected for the ANPP in 2003.[2] In March 2002, a Sharia court in Sokoto State freed a 35-year-old woman Safiya Hussaini, who had been sentenced to death by stoning after being found guilty of adultery. Nigeria's justice minister declared Sharia unconstitutional. Attahiru Bafarawa, however, said the Sharia states would not adhere to this declaration.[3]
Under the Bafarawa administration the state made significant improvements in the quality of roads. Schools were upgraded, and enrolment greatly improved due to assurances that all pupils would be taught morals and Islamic religion. The government built over 70 mosques. The water supply was improved through construction of boreholes.[4]
Later career
Attahiru Bafarawa founded the Democratic People's Party (DPP) and became its presidential candidate at the 2007 presidential elections in Nigeria.[2] As presidential candidate, while meeting with officials of the US State Department in Washington, D.C., he promised to scrap the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) if elected, describing the commission as "a conduit of corruption and waste."[5]
Arrested by EFCC
On December 1, 2015, Attahiru Bafara and his son Sagir Bafarawa[6] were arrested by the EFCC for money-laundering of N1.4 billion ($7m) that was budgeted for weapons procurement to equip the Nigerian military in their fight against the Boko Haram militants [7]
References
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- EngvarB from May 2014
- Use dmy dates from May 2014
- 1954 births
- Living people
- Governors of Sokoto State
- Great Nigeria People's Party politicians
- United Nigeria Congress Party politicians
- All People's Party (Nigeria) politicians
- All Nigeria Peoples Party politicians
- Democratic People's Party (Nigeria) politicians
- Candidates for President of Nigeria
- Candidates in the Nigerian general election, 2007