RURAL PEOPLE: THE ABANDONED SOULS IN ZAMFARA

BIRNIN ZAUMA ROAD, LOCALLY-MADE
WOODEN BRIDGE

The life of rural communities in Zamfara has been a hell on earth since the demise of Directorate for Food Roads and Rural infrastructure (DFRRI) which was established by military regime of General Badamasi Babangida in 1986 as "a conscious attempt to move away from past narrow sectional pre-occupation to overall formulation of the national rural development strategy with emphasis on alleviation of rural poverty and enhancement of the quality of rural life”.

True to its central objective, this development policy achieved a lot in transforming the life of rural communities in the country. It has not escaped my memory how as a young boy I used to come out together with other children to watch how bulldozers, caterpillars, tippers and rollers worked indefatigably before the first drizzle of every rainy season to rehabilitate our rural road from Bukkuyum to Birnin Zauma, Birnin Wajje, Birnin Tudu and other rural settlements on that axis. Similar access roads from Tsafe to 'Yankuzo, Hayin Alhaji, 'Yar Talata and from Tsafe to 'Yan Waren Daji and Tafkin Kazai were also routinely renovated. It is a sheer paradox that the advent of democracy and its widely proclaimed dividend is not felt by the people of the settlements.

The politicians from the time of the first democratic governor (Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura), Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi to the incumbent governor of Zamfara State Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari have been playing politics with the lives of rural people. So many sweet promises to put Bukkuyum - Birnin Zauma 3.7 miles (5 KM) road in shape were made on the campaign pulpits but dumped after successful ascendency to the gubernatorial throne. The same empty promises were made to the 'Yankuzo people that their 17 KM road would be constructed. These are the roads that have never been asphalted, so it is muddy and sticky in the rainy season posing a great threat to the lives of people who have to travel through eroded, muddy potholed roads to Tsafe and Bukkuyumrespectively for urgent medical care, because the one block clinics in these populated wards are without medical personnels and facilities to cater for their health needs. What then does Shehi want us to do? 

'YAN KUZO ACCESS ROAD, TSAFE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

I remember how the electorates from these rural regions revolted en-masse against the former Governor, Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi on account of his failure to reconstruct the road and the Yari came and promised in his first pre-tenure campaign that it would be rehabilitated and when he did not, the people still expressed optimism that he would do it because he has constructed roads in other places, and they supported him with their votes for the second tenure. Alas! He still fail to look at the people with eyes of sympathy.

The Zamfara state government needs to do the needful and save the rural people from this terrible hardship. Enough of this negligence! #Saveruralcommunities.



By Ibrahim Bello Zauma