Unease in Sokoto as Advancement Forum Event Halted at Last Minute
By Fahad Faruk Galadanchi
Tension appears to be brewing around the Sokoto Advancement Forum, a non partisan body made up largely of professionals, academics and technocrats of Sokoto State extraction following the sudden postponement of its planned brainstorming session on drug abuse.
The forum, led by former diplomat and statesman Prof. Amb. Ahmad Muhammad Wali, with retired permanent secretary Malami Ladan as secretary, had scheduled the event for today, Saturday, 2-5-2026, at Sokoto Guest Inn.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, the management of the hotel was said to have withdrawn from the earlier arrangement to host the programme, reportedly citing instructions from above as the reason for the cancellation.
Sources familiar with the development informed GaskiyaCast that the forum may not be in the good books of former Sokoto governor and APC leader Senator, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.
The sources claimed the independent posture of the group, as well as rumours about its growing influence, may have unsettled some political interests.
When contacted, Malami Ladan confirmed that the venue had indeed been denied to the forum, but maintained that no official reason was given by the hotel management.
Meanwhile, the forum has formally announced the postponement of the event in a statement on Saturday.
It apologised to participants who had already arrived for the programme, stating that all arrangements had been concluded before organisers were informed late on Friday, May 1st that the event could no longer hold.
According to the statement, the hotel management refunded the fees paid for the venue and allegedly said unnamed “powers that be” had objected to the gathering.
The group described the postponement as regrettable and apologised for the inconvenience caused to invited guests and attendees.
Despite the setback, the forum reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to the development of Sokoto State and promoting non partisan civic engagement.
It added that it would remain focused on its objectives and resist what it described as misrepresentation by mischief makers.
