Former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State has set up a N1 billion endowment fund for the people of the state.
The former governor said the gesture was borne out of his desire to bridge the gap created while in office.
At the ceremony held at his Sokoto residence on Wednesday, Bafarawa said, given the enormous powers of an executive Governor, the temptation to transgress was always there.
“It is therefore, possible that, one may have taken one action or the other that did not serve the best interest of the general public.
“In other words, one could, through acts of omission or commission, misappropriate funds that could have gone into productive and rewarding ventures.
“This situation, in my opinion, calls for restitution. I feel the urge to reconnect in some other ways with the people for a lost opportunity in order for one to make peace not only with the people but with the Almighty,” he said.
He continued “at 70 years of age, I feel a greater pull towards. My desire now is to ensure that I fill whatever gaps that I may have created in my relationship with the people while I was in office.
“Some may call this atonement, but I prefer to see it as an act of reciprocity. I want to give back to the people the goodwill and love they showed me.
“At no time can this giving back philosophy of mine be more suspicious and compelling than now that the people are passing through hard times occasioned by the current hardship in the country.
“It is against this background that, I have decided to make available the sum of one billion Naira for the welfare and well-being of the people of Sokoto state,” he said
He however, sought for forgiveness of the people of the state for whatever wrong he had done during his tenure as Governor of the state.
Also speaking, the Governor of Sokoto state, Ahmed Aliyu who was represented by the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Dr Jabir Maihula called on the wealthy individuals to emulate the gesture.
Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar commended the former governor for the gesture.
