The inhabitants of the six local government areas that constitute Zamfara west Senatorial district; Anka, Bakura, Maradun, Talata Mafara, Bukkuyum and Gummi are basking in the euphoria of quality representation at the 10th senate, sequel to the emergence of Dr. Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari (Shattiman Zamfara) the senator representing Zamfara west zone.
Prior to the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly election, Yari had already set in motion programme of action for his constituents. Indeed, while his opponents and contemporaries were circulating posters at public places, Shehi, as he is fondly called busied himself with the implementation of programmes for the people, exemplified by construction of internal roads in Zamfara west.
Aware that charity begins at home, the internal roads network at Talata Mafara local government were the first to be given facelift.
Specifically, in Talata Mafara metropolis, Senator Yari awarded contract for the construction of 470 meters road with drainages, expansion of 1st Jumat mosque and clearance work for the construction of ‘Yar Kurna super market. All the projects were executed by direct labour inTalata Mafara. The contract was awarded to CGC construction company.
Similarly, in May, 2023, as Senator-elect, Nasarawa Burkullu community in Bukuyyum local government, one of Yari’s constituency benefitted a 7.5kilometer Gurusu to Nasarawa road, awarded at the cost of over N1.3 billion. The project is being supervised by an engineering firm, Innovate Engineering Consulting and Construction Big. Ltd.
The road project was awarded by Senator Yari in his personal capacity.
Meanwhile, a constituent and prominent member of Nasarawa community, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan, revealed that they are overwhelmed by the road project.
According to Ladan, the community had been pursuing previous administrations to construct the road, since the administration of former President Shehu Shagari in the former Sokoto state until now, that Senator Yari made their dream a reality.
“When the road is completed, it will boost the socio economic development and improve security situation in the area” Ladan said.
He added that the Senator representing zamfara west had constructed over 17km township roads with drainages in Nasarawa Burkullu area when he held sway as the state governor.
Following the removal of fuel subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) by the federal government, the lawmaker’s, intervention to cushion the effect was remarkable. Yari first provided palliatives of 13 trucks of grains, equivalent to 3900 bags to the people of Talata Mafara.
Additional report, indicate that 168,000 households across Zamfara west are going to benefit from another philanthropic gesture of Yari. Under the new arrangement, 12,000 households in each of the 14 local government areas will benefit from the distribution of palliatives.
The former governor of Zamfara, according to report has directed that committees that will handle the distribution be constituted, but with a stern warning that beneficiaries should cut across board, irrespective of political or religious affiliation.
Further investigation also revealed that worried by the activities of bandits in the north west, Zamfara in particular, Senator Yari is initiating a motion on the ‘urgent need to avert killings and banditry taking place in Zamfara state’.
The motion, which is been co-sponsored by no fewer than 34 senators noted with dismay the killings and banditry attacks recently in five local government areas of Zamfara state (Maru, Bungudu, Bukuyum, Anka and Maradun) spanning over 21 communities.
Significantly, if Senator Yari eventually present the motion on the floor of the senate, it will seek for deployment of modern technology, like drones to monitor the operations of bandits and establishment of training depot in Zamfara state as a long term measure to curtail the menace of banditry.
To justify the motion in question, the lawmaker noted that Zamfara state is surrounded by two major forests of Sugugu and Rugu. While Sugugu forest stretch through Anka, Bakura, Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Maru, and Shinkafi local government areas, that of Rugu runs through Zurmi, Birnin Magaji and Tsafe local government areas.
According to the lawmaker, these forests have provided adequate cover for the bandits, making Zamfara state more vulnerable to such attacks than any other state in Northern Nigeria.
Consequently, Yari bemoaned that if the government does not come up with a definite policy on protecting the citizens especially those living in rural areas, the citizens may end up resorting to self-help to protect their lives and property.
Saminu Ibrahim, is a Public Affairs Analyst, Publisher. He writes from Abuja
