The people of Southern Kaduna have once more demanded that the next minister appointed by Kaduna State be from the region since they claim to be marginalised in state and federal appointments.
The Southern Kaduna area, they said during a news conference in Kaduna, has been severely marginalised over the last eight years in both the political and religious arenas, especially since the establishment of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Under the auspices of the Southern Kaduna Renewed Hope Movement of Nigeria, the people of Southern Kaduna bemoaned “the ongoing marginalisation faced by the Southern region within the governance of Kaduna State.”
“Since Kaduna State was established in 1967, 1976, and 1987, it has served as a home to diverse people and communities,” said Yusuf Kanhu, the Movement’s national coordinator. It is a mash-up of philosophies and civilizations and a representation of development.Unfortunately, we have seen a worrying departure from these ideals in recent years.
He said that Christians and Muslims formerly coexisted peacefully in Kaduna. They dined together, stood together, and celebrated each other’s holidays. Unfortunately, as we enter the twenty-first century, we are struggling with a depressing loss in political representation that is fair and united.
“We expected a unified Nigeria distinguished by social fairness, equity, and inclusivity—a break from the difficulties experienced during successive military regimes—with the return to democracy. Democracy should direct our country towards advancement since it promises synergy, representation, and inclusion.
The Southern Kaduna area, however, has been severely marginalised over the past eight years in both the political and religious arenas, especially since the advent of the APC. A considerable difference in political appointments and campaigns occurred during Mallam Nasir Elrufai’s previous administration, which resulted in an unbalanced representation of the area.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket’s establishment, according to the movement, “further deepened this divide, relegating the Christians and Muslims of Southern Kaduna to deputy positions or roles of lesser influence.”
“Recent recordings of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai making remarks that have been making the rounds on social media have raised questions about the reasons behind these recent political actions in the State. Questions regarding their plans for the Southern Kaduna region are raised by his claim of leniency in demolitions, the possibility for exacerbation of demolitions and suffering under a successor, as well as the ambition to continue the Muslim-Muslim ticket for the next 20 years.
“Are these elements influencing Governor Uba Sani’s present behaviour, which favours Zones 1 and 2 while ignoring the political importance of the South?We are motivated by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah’s observation that there is illiberal democracy, a system that superficially resembles democracy but lacks its fundamental principles. This highlights the difficulty we now have as a democracy that has elections but does not maintain the basic principles of democracy.
The Southern Kaduna Renewed Hope Movement calls on Governor Uba Sani to establish equality for the Muslim and Christian populations in Southern Kaduna in response to this tragic scenario. More importantly, the SKRHM express their joy and thanks for the tranquilly that all Kaduna sons and daughters are presently experiencing as a result of your appointment as governor.
“We demand that cabinet jobs be distributed fairly to the South. We suggest the appointment of Dr. Abdulmalik Durunguwa if a Christian ministerial appointment is not possible. Dr. Durunguwa is a devout member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a respected son of Southern Kaduna, a skilled administrator, and the former Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Emergency Agency (SEMA).
“We would want to stress that our intention is not to sow discord or hostility. We support harmony and development, and we think that equal representation, equitable resource allocation, and inclusive government are the only ways to get there.We thus urge the Kaduna State Government to attend to the issues of the Southern area and to act right away to stop this ongoing marginalisation. We want equitable resource allocation, fair representation in government, and more security in Southern Kaduna.
“We also appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians and the Federal Government to support and join us in our pursuit of justice, equality, and progress. Together, we can create a Kaduna State that really values and capitalises on the abilities and variety of each and every one of its citizens, they claimed.
