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]

References

1. "Sokoto State Government". Sokoto State. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
2. Dickson, Ifeatu (23 March 2007). "'Bafarawa: Ahead on merit'". The Sun Publishing Limited. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
3. "Sokoto Governor Attahiru Bafarawa discusses Sharia ruling". Voice of America. 25 March 2002. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
4. Jonathan Elendu (26 March 2006). "A Visit to the Seat of the Caliphate". ElunduReports. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
5. RABI'U AUWAL (22 March 2007). "I'll scrap NDDC if... – Bafarawa". Daily Triumph. Retrieved 5 December 2009.