Suleiman Hashimu, also called ‘the traveller’, no doubt has
set a historical record as the first man to trek from Lagos to Abuja.
In a new interview with newsmen, the Traveller, a native of Katsina State,
talked about his more than 2 weeks journey.
According to Hashimu, he was in Lagos when Buhari was
announced the president-elect of Nigeria, so he left Lagos at about 5am the
next day and arrived in Ibadan around 6pm.
Narrating his ordeal to newsmen upon his arrival in Abuja,
Hashimu said he had gone to get a police report at Ibadan to allow for an
unimpeded journey, but that as he could not wait for the processes to be
completed, the divisional police officer (DPO) gave him his phone number.
Hashimu said when he first embarked on the journey, many
persons discouraged him, especially family members but he never gave up.
He told journalists that in Ilorin, people accompanied him
for several miles until he stopped at Oloru, where he received much hospitality
in Jebba. He said unlike other villages, he met people who had heard of him in
Jebba.
Hashimu further explained that about 20 people set off with
him from Jebba and after some miles, 18 turned back, but the other two who were
more strong-minded followed him.
The Traveller narrated how they encountered armed robbers
close to Mokwa, but fortunately for him, he had already met one of them in
Jebba and the would-be robber ended up giving him N200 for ‘pure’ (sachet)
water.
Hashimu said he continued his trip from Mokwa to Kudu, then
from Kutigi to Bida, and then to Suleja, after which he arrived in Abuja on
Monday, April 20, 2015.
Upon his arrival in Abuja, many residents were already
waiting to receive him. When residents of FCT saw him, the chorus of Sai Buhari
rented the air.
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