My 'belongings' expanded during my 2 month stay in Sokoto, so I decided to ride back to Bauchi in a project vehicle rather than fly. It is about a 9-10 hour trip and actually involves two vehicles. The "car swap" arrangement was developed, I think, as a cost cutting and program support measure. Drivers can return to their home base the same day with no overnight stay at the alternate location. So the idea is that drivers from both offices meet in Zaria, the midpoint, passengers and goods move from one vehicles to the next and everyone returns to home base.
We left Sokoto around 7:30 in the morning, stopped in Gusau for a quick bite to eat and arrived in Zaria about half past 12. The roads were good. We passed through town after town and observed lots of political activity taking place this Monday after what were termed to be a successful round of voting for the House of Assembly this past weekend. Crowds of men were gathered along the streets. Packed into cars, vans and trucks youth were seen, especially in larger towns waving banners and poster for the candidate who had paid them for their support. According to Adiamo the driver during the political season many people 'abandon' their jobs and businesses to give full support to a politician (in hopes of reaping from the spoils). He complained that so many young men and some 'area boys' (thugs) are lazy and look for handouts from politicians for their livelihood. Last week in Sokoto I saw what must have been an attempt at intimidation when a pickup type truck loaded with machete and stick wielding youth pulled up outside the gate of the home of a member of the opposing party.
But I digress..the ride from Zaria to Bauchi was exhausting and spine altering. In order to avoid going through Jos, a city that is a hotbed of political and adversarial religious activity, an alternate route over an pothole riddled, dusty, gravel unpaved is required. OMG! I tried to close my eyes, relax and sleep through that leg of the trip..impossible!
Finally arrive in Bauchi, back at Zaranda in bed by 8! Where's my heating pad???
No comments:
Post a Comment