Ganduje, reciprocate Kofar Waika’s sacrifice in 2015 By Sulaiman Muhammad Ayagi

 

While having a chat with an elderly woman voter around the vicinity of “Gidan Zakka Polling Unit” in the metropolitan Kano in 2015, a boldly written message of patriotism was visibly noticeable all over her. She was in her late 90s. Her presence caused some curiosity in mind, hence the need to respectfully confront her on why she defied all odds, ranging from health challenges and physical stress associated with crowded voters, to exercise her civic rights.
Her terse but objective response signalled a dawn of a new era in the state: “yeah, it is Ganduje …in anticipation of him to construct our neglected Kofar Waika road!” What a wonderful answer.
Pressed further, this grandma who became the cynosure of all eyes, exhibited some appreciable level of wisdom and said inter alia; “…believing that my candidate (Khadimul Islam, as popularly called) will bring to an end series of pre-maternal and post-natal deaths synonymous with our area, due largely to poor, or virtually non-existence of tarred road – making Kofar Waika community’s ingress and isolation, especially during rainy season a reality!”
Our exemplary nonagenarian, fondly called ‘Yar Gwaggo, would have preferred to remain indoor but for her passion to exercise her franchise which others value less! Like many of our pregnant mums and retinue of elders, ‘Yar Gwaggo wouldn’t have lost sleep to escort and defend her votes as advocated by former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s “one man, one vote.”
For our promising youths who constitute bulk of the voters, they abandoned their various means of livelihood, all in a quest to ensure Ganduje’s success. They donated drinks to quench thirst amongst voters in demonstration of unparalleled solidarity geared at their preferred candidate’s occupation of Africa House!
For us at Kofar Waika, our major road project which is less than 1½km from Gidan Zakka, has remained a nightmare to pregnant mothers and even the expected babies. This is a consequence of neglect suffered continuously by the community, under successive governments in the state. The common refrain of dwindling revenue amidst competing needs cannot be tenable, as residents of this area deserve a better deal, considering what they put into the making of this present administration.
As done on the many roads, crescents and boulevards within a clime called “Jan-Bulo Housing Estate,” we should equally be given a sense of belonging. We, as major stakeholders, cannot be relegated to third class status in the Kano project.
While making our choice of African House occupant in 2015, we saw in you a God-fearing politician who will give all their dues. That was why we gave your choice the best of supports. The renowned enclave of over 200 Qur’anic memorizers of Kofar Waika congregated simultaneously to recite a number of verses of the Holy Book “from Baqara to Nas” in addition to series of success prayers.
The leadership of the Shu’a’ra’i Society of Nigeria was also not left out, as it composed a thought-provoking prayer for God’s intervention to garner support and victory for Candidate Ganduje –the game changer-in waiting, needed by this deprived community called Kofar Waika.
Multitude of Qur’anic students scattered all over Kofar Waika had a special vigil on the eve of election, to cause Allah to swing the pendulum in your favour.
Mr. Governor sir, we want you to break the jinx of the recurring feature of Kofar Waika road project in the state’s annual budgets that, up till date, never sees the light of the day!
With three years almost gone out of the four-year tenure, we are still hopeful that the needful shall be done. Kofar Waika’s sacrifice at 2015 elections deserves reciprocity.

Ayagi writes from Kano City, Kano

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