In the aftermath of a devastating fire outbreak that tore through a section of the Zuba Spare Parts Market popularly known as Malaysia, Hon. Kasim Mohammed has emerged as one of the few political leaders to physically stand with affected traders, at a time many residents say silence from key authorities has been deafening.
Hon. Kasim Mohammed visited the market to sympathize with traders whose shops and goods were destroyed by the inferno, leaving families counting losses and struggling to recover their livelihoods. The visit drew attention not only because of the scale of the tragedy, but also because of growing public concerns over the absence of urgent government response to market disasters across the area.
He was accompanied by his Vice Chairmanship candidate, Hon. Halidu Chashe Paiko; the Gwagwalada PDP Chairman, Hon. Umar Abdullah Yunus (Abuja); the Campaign Director-General, Arch. Suleiman Mohammed Zuba; and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders from Gwagwalada Area Council.
Addressing the affected traders, Hon. Kasim Mohammed described the incident as painful and heartbreaking, noting that market fires have continued to wipe out years of hard work without adequate preventive measures or emergency support systems in place.
“We cannot continue to watch our people lose everything overnight while leadership remains distant,” he said, offering prayers for divine restoration and assuring traders that their pain must not be ignored. PDP leaders who accompanied him also prayed for God’s protection, guidance, and provision to replace all that was lost in the fire.
Responding on behalf of the market community, the Chairman of the Zuba Spare Parts Market, Mr. Chukwu Okeke (Akpaja), expressed deep appreciation to Hon. Kasim Mohammed and the PDP delegation for identifying with the traders at what he described as one of the darkest moments in the market’s history.
“This visit is not just political; it is human,” Mr. Okeke said. “At a time when many leaders are nowhere to be found, Hon. Kasim Mohammed chose to come here in person. That alone speaks volumes.”
He noted that Kasim Mohammed’s presence at the scene of the tragedy clearly demonstrated that he has the people at heart and understands the everyday struggles of traders who form the backbone of the local economy.
Mr. Okeke further described Kasim Mohammed as a true son of Zuba who does not abandon his people in times of hardship, adding that the gesture has significantly strengthened the market community’s confidence in his leadership.
According to him, the traders of Zuba Spare Parts Market stand firmly with Hon. Kasim Mohammed, pledging their support and prayers as he continues his political journey. He expressed belief that, if elected, Kasim Mohammed would provide responsive, compassionate, and people-oriented leadership to Gwagwalada Area Council.
As traders begin the slow and painful process of rebuilding, the fire outbreak has once again raised uncomfortable questions about market safety, emergency preparedness, and leadership accountability. For many in Zuba, the tragedy has become a test—not just of resilience, but of who truly stands with the people when it matters most.