Barely one month after 32-year-old construction worker Suleiman Hashimu trekked from Lagos to Abuja for President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, a cyclist, Mohammed Sagir Auwal, yesterday rode to Abuja from Kaduna.
Auwal, 47, who arrived in Abuja’s Central Business District at 10am into the waiting arms of President/CEO of Reagan Cement Limited, Chief Reagan Ufomba, said he rode for six days.
According to him, the journey started on May 5.
Dressed in a green-white-green track suit and a crash helmet, Auwal said he embarked on the six-day ride to thank Gen. Buhari, President Goodluck Jonathan and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, for ensuring peaceful conduct of the last general elections.
Auwal arrived with three letters of congratulations to the three major players in the March 28 presidential election.
He said: “I rode from Kaduna. I left Kaduna last Tuesday and I thank God I’m here in six days. It has not been easy but it was worth it.
“I got inspiration from the unity that Nigeria achieved with the just-concluded elections. Speculations were rife that Nigeria was going to break and there was no trust among ourselves. People were moving back to their states of origin.
“…Before the results were announced, President Jonathan, out of his foresight and magnanimity, conceded defeat. That also is an inspiration because it is not about Jonathan; it is about unity, stability, continuity and togetherness of Nigeria.
“Also, I look at the contribution of the main ombudsman, in the person of Prof Jega. I doff my cap for Jega. In 2011, he tried his best but he didn’t get it correctly. As God will have it, today, Nigeria is a stable place. We give glory to God and we must recognise Jega for getting it right…”