By Muhammad Sani G. Chinade, Damaturu
Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai representing Yobe South senatorial district has Flag-off the multi-million-naira Fika and Gadaka water supply project as part of his efforts to alleviate the suffering of his constituents.
The brief ceremony held at the Fika football field attracted traditional rulers, Community leaders, Market Association, Politicians, Stakeholders and others too numerous to mention.
In her welcome address, the Chairperson of Fika Local Government Area, Hajiya Halima Kyari Joda said that the Fika-Gadaka water supply project is considered to be the most critical problem affecting the people of Yobe South senatorial district. “Almighty God Allah has made you to become a messiah of the people in addressing this problem.
“The importance of this project cannot and can never be over emphasized, as our people buy water at a very exorbitant rate which is not clean enough for human beings to consume directly”.
“Distinguished Senator, you have today not only written your name in the league of the most successful sons and daughters of this land who have immensely impacted the lives of the people, you have written it in gold, In Sha Allah we will reciprocate this gesture with our ballots, support and encouragement.” She noted.
Also speaking, the Constituency Agent, Ibrahim Mohammed Ibbiyo enumerated some of the projects facilitated by the Senator in the zone which includes construction of 25 mosques, empowerment of 900 women, establishment of constituency office, provision of ICT centers in Potiskum, Damagum “and Mamudo underway” construction of roads and drainages in Potiskumtown and installation of solar street lights in some communities as well as building a clinic in Dawasa town, distribution of car among others.
He used the forum to commend Governor Mai Mala Buni for transforming Yobe State with series of developments “Governor Buni is unique, is a real patriot, he can only be compared with the late Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello”.
Responding on behalf of the benefiting communities, Alhaji Goni Fika, Chairman of the critical stakeholder’s forum, Fika Local Government Area explained that “we have all converged here to witness the flag off, of facilitating the completion of the age-long Fika and Gadaka water supply project, a project subjected to dormancy and complete abandonment for over 20 years”.
“It is indeed gratifying for Yobe South senatorial zone to have Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai who has courageously decided to see to the thorough completion of this very important but abandoned project”.
He further revealed that “you hardly be proved wrong, if you loudly shout to say Fika town is probably the only Local Government Area without a clean portable drinking water.
This predicament is being suffered by all the inhabitants along the Fika and Gadaka axis, an area which but has a running stream all the year round in the Ngeji belt. That prompted the gigantic water supply project in 1989, which but was completely abandoned for over 20 years now”.
Fika added that they’re now lucky to have a spirited and courageous Senator who has taken the bull by the horn to facilitate the completion of the age long project. By completing this project, he said “our senator would have saved us from drinking this silky milky water, drawn from Fika shallow seasonal stream”.
“Here in Fika, underground water doesn’t percolate near the surface due, probably to the type of rock formation underground. People therefore desperately search for water through digging of wells and drill of boreholes which generally always prove abortive.”
“With these bold steps being taken, we therefore extend our appreciation and goodwill messages to His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari and his Federal Executive Council, the Senate President, Senator Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and all distinguished and Honorable members of the National Assembly, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni along with the members of the Yobe State Executive Council, Speaker and Honorable members of the state house of Assembly and our principal actor and our source of aspiration, Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, for facilitating this landmark this water supply project”.