Sokoto mourns illustrious son who ‘lived for others’

One week after the tragic death of the Managing Director of the Sokoto Investment Company, Aliyu Bala Sokoto, there has been outpouring of emotions for a man generally noted to have lived for others. Many good terms have been used to describe Aliyu. He was full of life and enthusiasm until the early hours of […]

One week after the tragic death of the Managing Director of the Sokoto Investment Company, Aliyu Bala Sokoto, there has been outpouring of emotions for a man generally noted to have lived for others.

Many good terms have been used to describe Aliyu. He was full of life and enthusiasm until the early hours of Saturday, July 29, 2019, 40 days after the death of his father, Ambassador Bala Sokoto.

The death of the 42-year-old ‘man of the people’ was an overwhelming grief to family, friends and people of the state. However, it gave an insight into a life of selflessness and service.

“He lived his life for people. He was compassionate and self-sacrificing. He would gladly give out even his last kobo to soothe others. He was also highly patriotic, conscientious, diligent and worked towards enhancing investment in Sokoto,” a bosom friend, Nasiru Salihu Sifawa, stated.

The deceased was noted to have deleted every ‘worldly’ thing about his life and channelled more effort on the religious aspect as if he was told the end was near. He pasted Islamic messages on the social media, one of which was that of July 9, 2017, which read:”O Allah, when my bones are lying beneath the soil and I am long forgotten, grant me those who will make dua (prayers) for me always, tirelessly.”

Many also confirm was one Chief Executive who would rather spend his personal money to execute anything outside official outlay, than deep hands into public funds.

Daily trust gathered that during Ramadan when workers complained of delay in special package for them, Aliyu who was only few months in office as MD SIC, purportedly asserted that he would not use public funds for welfare package as he did not know how to account for it in the sight of God.

Aliyu, was however, said to have assured them that he would do it with his own money when salary was paid, which he did.

Until his appointment last year as Sokoto Investment Company MD, Aliyu Bala served as the Business Development Manager in First Bank.

He was Relationship, Branch and Area Manager at GTB and Platform Officer at FSB International Bank.

In a tribute on him, Mallam Imam Imam, a Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, wrote: “The pain of Aliyu’s passage will linger for a while. Here was a young man who breezed into public service and in less than a year left positive impression that will last a lifetime. When he was appointed as MD in August last year, I was impressed by his deep knowledge of the investment and financial sector.

“What strikes you most about him was his humility. In dealing with him, his honesty and integrity shines through at all times.”

Aliyu’s brother, Ibrahim Bala Sokoto, a banker, who attended the same primary and secondary schools, as well as university and graduated the same year, simply said it was a heavy loss. 

Aliyu is survived by a wife and three children.

Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who was among those who attended his funeral, described the death as a great shock and loss not only to his family but also to the people of Sokoto State.