By Ango Don Bally
The Southern Kaduna Journalists’ Forum (SKJF) has lauded the collaboration and synergy between Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa towards tackling insecurity in the state.
The collaboration by the duo has led to the establishment of three new military commands in Samaru, Zango-Kataf, Giwa, and Birnin-Gwari, in addition to a base to be set up by the Air Force in Millennium City, Chikun Local Area, all in Kaduna State.
This is coming on the hills of a two-day Security Summit of Governors of the seven states in the North West held in Katsina where they resolved to work together through robust regional cooperation to solve the seemingly intractable security challenges plaguing the zone. The summit was in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with support from the German and Norwegian governments.
The forum in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Ango Bally and Secretary, Lilian Silas respectively, said these strategic moves will significantly help in addressing the protracted banditry, kidnapping, and other security threats in the region and enhance agricultural activities in the state and neighbouring environs.
The forum said it was optimistic that the deployment of additional military personnel will significantly improve security and enabled farmers to access their lands without fear, especially in communities like in Maro-Kajuru, Kauru, Sanga, Giwa Areas that have been witnessing persistent banditry attacks, adding that “robust military presence in the areas concerned, will no doubt bring sanity by boosting citizens and farmer’s confidence for robust agricultural activities and other economic activities to combat poverty and unemployment across the state.”
The forum also “commended Governor Una Sani’s initiative to further enhance security across the state by distributing 150 patrol vehicles and 500 motorbikes to various security agencies, including the Army, Air Force, DSS, Police, Civil Defence, Customs, and Immigration.”
“SKJF equally recognises Gov. Sani’s laudable efforts in uniting the state towards achieving sustainable piece through the formation of the Kaduna Elders Forum, Co-Chaired by the duo of the former Military Governor of Old Rivers State, Retired General Zamani Lekwot and former Head of Service, Abubakar Mustapha, with highly respected personalities as members, to help chat a new course for the unity and development of the state”, the statement said further.
The forum congratulates Gov. Uba Sani for marking one year in office, and “particularly lauded his efforts towards inclusive governance as evident with the recent inauguration of development projects that cut across southern and northern parts of the state.”
However, SKJF “called on the Governor Sani to go some steps further in addressing the aspect of skewed political appointments in favour of Northern Kaduna to the detriment of the Southern region” a deliberate practice, it noted, was “entrenched by ex-Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai which he ingeniously exploited as a divide and rule tactic that left the state more divided along religious fault lines than he met it.”
“This, we expect Governor Uba Sani to take deliberate practical steps to reconcile the regrettable retrogressive politics that Malam el-Rufai instituted, by building bridges of unity and inclusive politics across the state for sustainable development to be achieved,” the statement stressed.
In the same vein, the forum called on Governor Uba Sani “to demonstrate the pro-democracy and rule of law that he stands for, as evidence in his participation for the realisation of June 12 election struggle, for his government to respect and implement the recent court judgement which nullified the dethronement of the Piriga monarch, Chief Jonathan Paraguwa Zamuna by ex-Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai on May 22, 2023 and ordered for his reinstatement.”
Honourable Justice Bashir Attahiru Alkali’s judgement of the National Industrial Court sitting in Kaduna, had on June 10, 2024 declared the dethronement of Chief Zamuna null and void for lack of fair hearing and ordered for his reinstatement with all salaries arrears paid and all privileges restored within 30 days.
The court also ordered Kaduna state government to pay Chief Zamuna 10 million Naira damages for the violation of his fundamental human rights. The copy of judgement has already been released.
This is even as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for constitutional reform to protect traditional institutions in Nigeria, by recognising and defining their responsibilities, lamenting that “recent developments in the country have seen a growing tendency of state governments exerting influence in distorting the modalities of enthroning traditional stools.”
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