Sani Bilyaminu Yahaya is an indigene of Kano who walked from Kano to Abuja. His expedition to the Nigerian capital territory is not meant for business, studies at tertiary institution and or seeking for a greener posture at any public or private organisations.
Yahaya’s hectic journey is also not destined for visiting his relatives or friends. Rather, it is a special trip to show solidarity to the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his victory in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
Hailed from Unguwar Binnin-Kara in Dambatta local government area of Kano, the agile Yahaya starts his journey from his country-home Birnin-Kara village in Dambatta Gabas with intention to reach to Abuja and congratulate the president-elect.
Daily Telescope gathered that from Birnin-Kara village, the young man had a stopped-over in Kano where he congratulated the current Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Alhaji Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari over his victory in the last general election.
From Kano, Bilyaminu moved to Kwanar Dangora village in Kiru local government area of Kano where he spent a night before he moved to Tashar Yari village in Makarfi local government area of Kaduna state and had another stopover. He also spent another night in Zaria and then moved to Marabar-Jos and slept there, before he finally reached Kaduna state where he had an interaction with journalists before he bids a farewell and continues with his journey.
Speaking to pressmen in Kaduna, Yahaya explained that since he embarked on the journey, he had never board a car, ride a motorcycle or bicycle even though many people had offered him free ride.
He said: “Many people have offered me free ride but I always declined because my intention is to trek to Abuja. Others offered me money but I also refused to collect because I have enough money that can transport me to Abuja but the issue is that I have made my mind to trek so I don’t want to pay for any transport throughout my journey to Abuja.
“In Zaria, many people have offered me free ride but I did not accept their offers. I decided to trek to Abuja from Kano just congratulate the President-elect. Initially, I and my friend came up with the idea of trekking to Abuja for the love we have for the president-elect, but later my friend changed his mind and abandoned the idea. However, his decision did not discourage me from embarking on this journey.
“I embarked on this special trip to Abuja just to express my happiness to the president-elect over his victory. My pride is to reach to Abuja and congratulate the President-elect. So, as his special guest who treks from Kano to the capital territory to congratulate him, I would be glad if the President-elect will receive me in Abuja because this journey is meant for him alone. I have nobody to receive me in Abuja and I don’t want anybody to receive me apart from the president-elect.”
On the challenges he encountered, Sani said he had never encountered much challenge since he began the journey, recalling that “the only serious challenge I faced was when I slept in an uncompleted building in Zaria. The other was when I was beaten up by the rain. Again, when I reached to Kaduna, I also realized that I need to change my shoe because it was seriously damaged. So, these are the only major challenges I have encountered since I embarked on this journey.
“My trek to Abuja is not for any gains apart from congratulating the newly elected president over his victory in the last general elections. I am sure many people may think that I embarked on this journey for monetary aspect or for political gains, but I want assure Nigerians that the journey is purely for solidarity purpose and for the love I have for the president-elect.”
According to him, Abuja would be his last destination, saying “once, I congratulate the president-elect, I will return to my country-home Binrinin-Kara village and reunite with my family. However, I journey back to Kano will not be trekking. This time around I will use any other available means of transportation at my disposal.”
Yahaya, who was optimistic that he would be received by the president-elect in Abuja, commended the press for the support to him, noting that members of the pen profession have supported him in various ways since the commencement of his solidarity trek.
