The Sokoto State Commissioner for Land and Housing, Alhaji Aminu Bala Bodinga, is today being turbaned as Magajin Garin Bodinga by Sarkin Bodinga and District Head of Bodinga in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Abdulra’uf.
The new Magajin Gari succeeds his great grandfather, Magaji Hamza, who reigned from 1894, according to a palace source, explaining that the title had been in existence before colonialism.
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The source further explained that Magaji Hamza was the first person conferred with the title because of his extreme loyalty to the then Emir of Bodinga, and that at that time the tittle was attached with the portfolio of a district head, hence that the pioneer Magajin Gari, late Hamza, served as Magajin Gari and District Head of Bodinga Cikin-Gari (Bodinga Town).
However, after the death of the first Magaji Hamza, the tittle was not transferred to any member of his family until when the present Sarkin Bodinga decided to confer it on the deceased’s great grandson, Alhaji Aminu Bala.
Hon Bala’s appointment, according to the palace source, may not be unconnected with his unflinching loyalty, not only to the Sarkin Bodinga, but to the traditional institution as whole, explaining that the new Magajin Gari has contributed immensely to the development of Bodinga Town, traditional institution, Sokoto South and Sokoto State in general.
Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday, the new Magajin Gari assured the people of Bodinga that he would use the opportunity to continue with the humanitarian gesture he had been offering to the people.
He said his appointment as Magajin Gari was a golden opportunity for him to serve his people in another capacity, noting that, “I want to use this medium to assure Sarkin Bodinga and the people of Bodinga that my appointment will ginger me to do more for them.
“I do not know what Sarkin Bodinga sees in me that warrants this important appointment. However, I will not let him and the people of Bodinga down. I will do everything possible to ensure that I contribute immensely to the development of my people.
“Therefore, I want to call on my people to support me with prayers and useful advice that will guide me to serve them well. I thank Sarkin Bodinga for the honour done to me. This is a great honour not only to my humble self, but to the entire members of my family. I am grateful to Sarkin Bodinga and to those who contributed to the success of my turbaning.”
Hon Aminu Bala Bodinga was born on February 15, 1966, in Bodinga Town. He obtained his Primary School Certificate (PSC) in 1979 from Town Primary School, Bodinga. He then proceeded to Government Teachers’ College (GTC), Argungu, where he obtained his Grade II Certificate in 1984. He got admission into the College of Education, Sokoto, and obtained the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) in 1988. In 2014, he got his Bachelor of Arts (Ed) in Primary Education from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). In his quest for higher learning, he went back to NOUN for a masters’ in Education Planning and Administration in 2016.
The new Magajin Gari also obtained a professional certificate from the International Institute of Professional Security, in affiliation with Al-Qalam University, Katsina, in 2017, after which he obtained a professional Diploma in Security Management and Strategy Operations.
He began his working carrier as a Grade II teacher in 1984 and was promoted to the position of head teacher in 1988. In 1990, he worked as Depot Representative for Anaruwa Petroleum Nigeria Limited.
Magajin Gari then became the state Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Association of Small Scale Industries from 1993 to 1996; General Manager, Waziri Group of Companies, from 1993 to 1997. Later he became the Secretary of the Northern Petroleum Bridgers Association, Ibadan/Mosomi Depot, from 1999 to 2001.
His status was uplifted to the Depot Representative, Southern Zone of the Anaruwa Petroleum Nigeria Limited, and later Managing Director, Nagarta Automobile and Investment Limited.
His political career started in 1989 when he became a House of Assembly aspirant under the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC). He also served as the Secretary of the Nigerian Youth Organisation, Bodinga Local Government, from 1991 to 1992, and Secretary of the defunct DPN in Bodinga from 1998 to 1999. From 1999 to 2006, he was the Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Elders Committee, Bodinga, He was also PDP chairmanship aspirant, Bodinga, in 2002, and a Special Assistant to the state Chairman of PDP from 2002 to 2003.
Between 2012 and 2014, the Magajin Gari served as the Zonal Secretary of the PDP of Sokoto South Senatorial District, and during the 2015 general elections, Hon Bodinga was elected member representing Bodinga South in the Sokoto State House of Assembly.
In June, 2019, Hon Bodinga was appointed Commissioner for Land and Housing by Gov Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a position that is he is still holding.
The new Magajin Gari is also the Vice President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria.
He is happily married with children and enjoys travelling, sightseeing and reading.
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