When people migrate from their communities to other places, it is often a free will decision with the intention of seeking greener pasture and returning home after a period of time to live happily ever after.

But this was not the case with the people of Aljanare province in Kebbi State who were forced to leave their community and  were shut out for a very long time against their wish such that some generations of the people could no longer locate the land of their forebears. As a result, they lost all sense of belonging and could not  live a fulfilled life.

But today, this story about the Aljanare people has changed. It has become a mere historical event- thanks to the caring administration of Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi state.

The people of Aljanare could no longer continue to stay in the land of their birth because life had become unbearable for them. They had been cut off and shut out from other communities because of lack of access roads. They found it difficult to move in and out of their community hence, they could not convey their agricultural produce to neighbouring communities for sale neither were people who wanted to enter their community for purposes of commerce and other developmental ventures able to do so, not even the ubiquitous Igboman could penetrate the area for business.

Consequently, the people were sidelined in the distribution of the dividends of democracy. They lacked potable water, electricity, schools, hospitals, etc. The people were roundly marginalised, to say the least, hence their decision to leave their homestead.

However, today  the people who had left their land of birth many decades ago are now planning to return because the story has changed.
As soon as Governor  Saidu Dakingari took the mantle of leadership in the state, he left no one in doubt that things were going to change. He immediately set out to work, doing what previous administrations considered tasking and unattainable and thus began to put smile on the faces of the people of the state.

For the people of Aljanare, the first thing he did was to open up their community by linking the Dunlop road to the area. In ensuring that all the villages and towns in the area were effectively opened up for development, he embarked on the construction of the 111-kilometre road that cuts across five local government areas, starting from Bunza town, headquarters of Bunza Local Government Area through Kalgo, Birnin Kebbi, Argungu and Augue local government.

The project, which gulped about N5 billion, goes a long way to show the determination of a leader to sincerely serve his people as he swore under oath so to do.

Described as a man without grudges for anyone, including his political opponents, Dakingari has proved that he is an exceptional personality who abhors tribalism, sectionalism victimisation and politics of bitterness.

Apart from the developmental projects he initiated which are evenly distributed in all the nooks and crannies of the state without giving priority attention to his own local government area,  Governor Dakingari has exhibited the trait of a  good neighbour. The fact being reiterated  is that the good works of Governor Dakingari knows no bound and that to him, “the law of necessity” overrides “the law of ceremony. This can be explained by his decision to construct a road that links Kebbi  State to Niger  State and in the process constructed the five kilometres road that falls within Niger State.

Furthermore, he has constructed the 48-kilometre Malando-Ngeski road in Niger State and paid compensation to those whose houses and farmlands were destroyed to pave the way for the road construction.Indeed, the construction of the Malando-Ngaski is a great blessing to the people.

Travellers along the road had, for a long time, fallen victim of armed robbery activities especially between Kontagora and Mokwa end of the road which was in a deplorable state and which robbers took advantage of to wreck havoc. While many had been rendered completely devastated having lost their most priced possessions to the men of the underworld, others had met their untimely death. But with the construction of the road, the Governor Dakingari-led administration had provided a short cut and alternative route for travellers. The new road serves the people travelling to and from Niger, Kebbi and Sokoto States.

In taking it upon itself to construct the 220 kilometre Kaoje-IIIo-Lolo road which was abandoned by the Adamu Aliero administration, the current administration in the state has proved to be very courageous and daring with regards to making life worth living for the people.
In fact, prior to the present administration, the road was so bad that a former Sokoto State government had to build government lodges in Kaoje and Illo because it was not possible to travel to and from Kaoje to Illo or Lolo in a single day.

The Kaoje-Illo-Lolo area is densely populated and endowed with fertile land for agricultural produce. The area is also good for fishing and mass production of cotton and grains.

Again, it links the area to the Republic of Benin. Hence, the Dakingari government saw the need to open up the place to boost commerce. It is also the area where the Nigeria Customs Service relies most for revenue generation.
Impressed by the Dakingari phenomenon in Kebbi state, former Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, said what Dakingari was doing in the state was unprecedented.

He made the declaration during the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated Zurn-Senchi road, noting that the governor had done a lot for the Zuru Emirate which now has government’s presence unlike before.

He said further, “why would people not vote for him for second term? He has done all  that he promised during the electioneering. The projects are there for one to see. Dakingari has, indeed, proved himself to be the people’s governor.”

One road in which all hopes had been lost with regard to its construction is the Dabai-Koko road, but today, the story is different as the contract for the road has been awarded and work is going on at an encouraging speed.

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