MAHMOUD wrote this piece from Kano
Sokoto politics took a dramatic turn this week as Governor Ahmed Aliyu publicly moved to ease tensions with his political mentor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, following weeks of speculation over alleged plans to replace the governor with Minister of State for Works and Housing, Barr. Bello Muhammad Goronyo.
The rift, described by insiders as a clash of ego between protégé and mentor, reportedly deepened over delays in the rehabilitation of Wamakko’s residence in Sokoto. Party sources said the stalled repairs prompted Goronyo, a known Wamakko ally, to mobilize contractors for urgent renovation — a move that was interpreted in some quarters as a direct challenge to the governor’s authority.
The development sparked talk within APC circles of a possible realignment, with Wamakko allegedly weighing Goronyo as an alternative for the governorship seat. The tension raised concerns among party elders about unity ahead of the 2027 political calendar.
However, in what many observers called a display of fair play, Senator Wamakko reportedly declined to escalate the standoff. Instead, high-profile stakeholders intervened, urging calm and reconciliation between the two leaders by Abdulazzez Yar’is a closed ally of Wammakko.
The de-escalation became public when Rep. Sani Alhaji Yakubu, a Wamakko loyalist, conveyed Governor Aliyu’s apology to the former governor. The gesture was seen as Aliyu’s acknowledgment of Wamakko’s foundational role in his political rise and in the APC structure in Sokoto State.
Political analysts say the apology signals maturity and political strength rather than weakness. “No condition is permanent in politics. Aliyu’s move shows he understands that yesterday’s differences cannot override today’s need for unity,” a Sokoto APC chieftain said.
Wamakko, who governed Sokoto between 2007 and 2015 and remains the APC leader in the state, has not issued a formal statement. But close associates indicate he welcomed the overture, viewing it as necessary to stabilize the party and focus on governance.
With the truce, attention now shifts to service delivery. Supporters of the governor argue that the reconciliation frees Aliyu to concentrate on campaign promises, while also reaffirming Wamakko’s influence as a stabilizer in Sokoto politics.
For now, the episode underscores a recurring lesson in Nigerian politics: alliances shift, ego battles flare, but survival often depends on knowing when to recalibrate. As one party elder put it, “Today’s rival can be tomorrow’s running mate. No condition is permanent.”
Meanwhile, Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has moved to mend fences with his political mentor, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, cooling weeks of tension that rattled the All Progressives Congress in the state.
The dispute, seen by many as an ego clash between protégé and godfather, was linked to delays in rehabilitating Wamakko’s house in Sokoto. The situation escalated when Minister of State for Water Resources, Barr. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, a Wamakko ally, mobilized contractors for urgent repairs.
The move triggered speculation that Wamakko could back Goronyo to replace Aliyu, fueling talk of a cold war inside Sokoto APC. Party elders warned that a split would hurt the party ahead of 2027.
In a show of fair play that surprised some observers, Senator Wamakko chose not to escalate. Instead, senior stakeholders intervened, pressing both camps to reconcile for the sake of party unity and governance.
Analysts say the gesture proves the adage that no condition is permanent. Aliyu’s willingness to step back from confrontation was framed as maturity, not submission, and a calculated move to consolidate his leadership.
With the feud easing, APC supporters expect renewed unity. For Governor Aliyu, the lesson is clear: in politics, today’s tension can become tomorrow’s alliance, and no condition is permanent.
MAHMOUD is former, Leadership Regional Editor Sokoto, Kebbi & Zamfara State, present the Northern Star online newspapers EDITOR
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