Sen. Sunday Marshall Katung
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Southern Kaduna Youth and Student Forum (SKYSFORM) has commended Sen. Sunday Marshall Katung over his relentless efforts in alleviating the prevailing hardship and empowering the youths and students of Southern Kaduna through his annual scholarship scheme.
The group in a statement signed by its National Publicity Officer II, Comrd. Rabiu Yau Garga issued to Journalists on Monday in Kaduna, disclosed that the scheme since its inception has directly impacted over 400 Southern Kaduna students across various institutions and LGAs.
The group also explained that the scheme has gone beyond the eight LGAs that make up Kaduna-South Senatorial District.
The statement cautioned those who are trying hard to rubbish the recent lists by the foundation as a means of settling political scores to, immediately, desist from doing so, adding a careful selection process was followed devoid of bias, favoritism, or religious consideration.
” Katung has dolled out millions of naira into the scholarship scheme to deserving students of higher learning through his foundation, the Marshall Katung Foundation, MKF, long before he emerged as the Senator of the region.
“As a body, whose Executives comprise both Christians and Muslims, we have investigated and are satisfied with the selection process, which was based on spread and merit, and thus, dismiss in its entirety, attempts by agents of disunity among us, to suggest and or establish religious bias in the selection process. For the avoidance of doubt, the list published represented all ethnic groups in the zone.
” We, therefore, congratulate the recent beneficiaries and call on both the students and parents (whose children/wards have benefited) to not just make good this opportunity but also pray for the sustenance of the program for the greater good of Southern Kaduna. The Senator also deserves our support and prayers.
” These groups of persons whose sponsors have never used either personal resources or political offices to organize similar programs that have far-reaching effects on the lives and future of our zone, or for either Christians or Muslims cannot suddenly become overnight defenders of Muslims or Christians as in this case, and hence, should not be taken seriously.
The group called on the mischievous elements to instead of rubbishing a scheme that is well-intended and carefully selected on MERIT, talk to their paymasters to enlarge the coast by also embarking on a similar feat so that those who were not selected by the Foundation intervention can be considered and assisted, stressing doing so would be much more patriotic and very necessary at this time.
” We equally appeal to the Senator to increase the number of beneficiaries going forward as most of our students across institutions are still struggling to pay their school fees.
” We once again urge the Distinguished Senator never to relent on his commitment to better the lot of our students, and indeed the entire Southern Kaduna because of a few bad eggs that are trying hard to rubbish him or deepen our religious differences.
” No one should be allowed to demonize and/or kill the joy the recent scholarship by the senator has brought to the faces of students and their families.” The statement cautioned.
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