A prominent civil society organisation in Zamfara State has criticised the state government over what it describes as a “shameful” failure to support the late Professor Roko during his lifetime.
In a statement on Saturday, the group’s secretary, Muhammad Gummi, expressed deep disappointment at the government’s handling of the professor’s medical plight, calling the recent donation of food items to his family “hypocritical and belated.”
“Where was this concern when he was alive and desperately needed assistance?” Gummi asked.
“The Zamfara State Government failed to support one of its most illustrious sons during his most critical moment.”
Before his death, Prof. Roko had publicly appealed for ₦13 million to undergo life-saving surgery. His plea, Gummi said, was met with silence from the state authorities.
“This is a total failure of responsibility and empathy. It is heartbreaking,” he added.
In contrast, Gummi praised the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who donated over ₦5 million towards Prof. Roko’s medical treatment.
“Governor Abba Kabir demonstrated true compassion and showed that he values the intellectual contributions of our scholars,” he noted.
The group questioned why Zamfara’s leadership could not emulate such support, especially for a figure of Roko’s stature.
“Prof. Roko was not just any academic; he was one of the most respected professors in Northern Nigeria and the entire North-West. The state’s failure to stand by him reflects a deep lack of regard for our intellectual heritage,” the statement said.