THE sum of over N747.6 million was raised by the Sokoto state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before 12 midnight on Monday.
More donations were still being expected as high brow guests depart the International Conference Center, Kasarawa venue of fund raising dinner organized by the party.
The trio of Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa state, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara gave the Sokoto state PDP N80 million which breakdown indicate the spread of the sum as N50 million, N25 million and N5 million respectively by the donors.
A chieftain of the state party apparatus, who is also a philanthropist of note and featured as the chief launcher, Alhaji Mukhtar Maigona donated N50 million while AFDIN Construction Company Limited and Mr Ese Omorode, who were among the co-launchers donated N50 million apiece.
All donors conformed to the stipulation of the Electoral Act, which pegged the ceiling of donations to political parties coffers for individuals and groups at N50 million only. The fund raising was also done transparently.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state, who expressed appreciation to the donors and guests at the star-studded event, recalled that the choice of the guests; particularly his counterpart, Sen. Diri and Saraki, was a reflective of the historic ties between Sokoto and Ogbia/Ilorin.
According to him, both Chief Melford Okilo (1903-2008) and Oloye Abubakar Olusola Saraki (1933-2012), played significant roles in the emergence of Alhaji Shehu Shagari (1925-2018), as President in the Second Republic.
He said this historical fact, which underscores the relationship that existed between President Shagari and these personalities, was why informed the choice and invitation of Diri and Saraki as Special Guest of Honor and Chairman of the occasion in that order.
In his opening remarks, Saraki said Sokoto state is the one that has sent a clear message to the coin as to where political pendulum of the country will swing to during and after the forthcoming elections.
Saying that all categories of elections that would hold in the state are not its own alone, but that of the party, the former Governor of Kwara state, who urged donors at the event to donate generously for the party’s electoral victories, added that: “the victory of PDP in Sokoto state is also the PDP in Nigeria.”
Gov. Diri on his part, also said the fund raising would contribute to the success of the PDP nationwide.
Equally alluding to the historical and cordial political relationship between Sokoto and Bayelsa, the Governor urged participants at the dinner to make generous donations to the party.
He said “Nigeria needs to be restored and there is no other way to do this than through voting for the PDP, so as to ensure that the country does not go down the drain.”
The fund raising dinner was attended by a large section of the PDP stakeholders nationwide.