Hundreds Defect to APC as Amb. Sahabi Gada Flags Off N12.7bn 36km Kware-Gidan Madi Road Reconstruction
Hundreds Defect to APC as Amb. Sahabi Gada Flags Off N12.7bn 36km Kware-Gidan Madi Road Reconstruction 
From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
The flag-off of the reconstruction of the 36-km Kware to Gidan Madi Road was on Thursday overshadowed by the mass defection of hundreds of members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The historic ceremony was part of the series of events lined up to mark the third year anniversary of Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
The road project is being executed under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), and is jointly financed by the World Bank and the Sokoto State Government at a cost of N12.708 billion.
The Special Guest of Honour, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Tunisia, Ambassador Sahabi Isa Gada, performed the flag-off.
Gada who was also a former Secretary to the Sokoto State Government, described the road as “a road of hope and economic prosperity” for communities in Kware and Gwadabawa LGAs, saying it will link farmers to markets, children to schools, and patients to hospitals.
The highlight of the event was the defection of hundreds of members of the ADC and PDP into the APC.
The defectors included former top state and local government officials, numerous business tycoons as well as renowned politicians.
They were received into the fold of the party by the State Deputy Chairman of APC, Alhaji Yahaya Buhari Sirridawa*
, on behalf of its leader, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and the State APC Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Sarkin-Gobir Adiya.
He was assisted by the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Ibrahim Kware.
The State Deputy Governor, Engr. Idris Muhammad Gobir, also welcomed the defectors into APC on behalf of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
All the leaders, including Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, welcomed the new entrants into the APC, assuring them of equality and equity.
Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to rural infrastructure.
He said the 36km road will have gravel base, asphaltic surface dressing, hydraulic structures, side drains and road furniture.
The Governor recalled that the administration had constructed and commissioned several township and rural roads across the state within the last three years.
“I challenge the contractor to deliver this project on time and according to specifications. I also call on benefiting communities to support the contractor,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto on Rural Roads, Alhaji Malami Muhammad Galadanchi, disclosed that the current administration had constructed over 1,365 kilometers of road networks across the 23 LGAs of the state from 2023 to date.
According to him, whereas some of the roads had since been commissioned, others are awaiting commissioning, adding that the construction of an additional 530km of road networks are in the pipeline awaiting the award of contracts by the state government.
The Special Adviser commended the Governor for according top priority to rural infrastructure including roads.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the District Head of Binji, Sarkin Yakin Binji, Alhaji Usman Dansarki, hailed the Governor for tirelessly striving to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state.
He vowed to sustain their support and fervent prayers to ensure the success of the myriad of programmes and policies of the administration.
Speaking earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman of Kware LGA, Alhaji Ibrahim Attahiru, said that the people of the area have never had it so good like under the administration of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
Recalling the invaluable contributions of the former Governor of the state, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko to the development of the area, Attahiru also commended Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto for routinely providing huge funds to ensure the even socioeconomic development of the local government in the last three years.
Amb. Gada commended Gov. Aliyu for his purposeful leadership and also applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,, and development partners for supporting rural infrastructure in Sokoto.
The anniversary event was attended by members of the National and state Assemblies, traditional rulers, and top government officials, among other dignitaries.
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