The lingering debate over the long-neglected Ganye–Jada road has taken a dramatic turn, as Rev. Habila M. Istifanus has finally set the record straight on who truly deserves the credit for the long-overdue reconstruction.
The road, stretching from the LCCN junction through Yebbi and Mbulo to the former “Welcome to Ganye” gateway, has been a nightmare for motorists and commuters for years — riddled with potholes, prone to accidents, and virtually impassable during the rainy season.
Tensions flared after Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, while flagging off the campaign of the PDP candidate for the upcoming August 16 Ganye constituency State House of Assembly by-election, promised to repair the road — but with a political condition: only if the people of Ganye vote for the PDP candidate.
For many residents, this promise rang hollow. Critics accused the governor of neglecting Ganye for years simply because the PDP had lost the local government in the last election. But just days after the governor’s remarks, bulldozers rolled in and engineers began surveying the road, sparking fresh controversy.
While some PDP supporters rushed to claim credit for the development, opposition voices — particularly from the APC — countered that the project was actually initiated by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) under the Federal Government, with the personal intervention of the WALIN Ganye, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser to the President.
Rev. Habila minced no words in defending the project’s legitimacy and significance.
> “Anyone who attempts to obstruct this construction will be regarded as an enemy of the land,” he warned.
He emphasized that the road’s appalling state had long endangered lives, causing countless accidents over the years. “If there had been a government that truly cared about Ganye, this road would have been fixed a long time ago,” he added.
According to Rev. Habila, the current intervention is purely a Federal Government initiative, facilitated through the NEDC and championed by WALIN Ganye, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, whose influence and commitment to the welfare of his people have once again delivered tangible results.
> “Because of his concern and sympathy for the people of Ganye, the Federal Government has now recognized our plight. In no distant time, this road will be fully completed, and it will be to the glory of God and the credit of those who truly care,” he said.
For now, the sight of heavy machinery along the once-forgotten Ganye–Jada road is giving residents a renewed sense of hope — even if political fireworks continue to blaze in the background.
PIONEER NEWS 