Bauchi Government is Sidelining Us – Ningi People Cry Out
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, ABUJA – Following what they described as “the absence” of basic social amenities and other provisions needed for a good living, the people of Ningi Emirate in Bauchi state have declared that they are being marginalized by the State Government.
The people specifically expressed displeasure over what they described as “the glaring marginalization” of the area by successive administrations in the state and therefore called for immediate remedy of the situation.
They noted that even recent allocation of 2,500 housing units planned for construction by the State government in the six Emirates of the state, only 200 units was allocated to Ningi Emirate as against the figure allocated to other emirates.
Speaking through three main groups in the area, namely the Ningi Emirate Development Initiative, Ningi Emirate Progressive Association and Ningi Grassroots Development Association, noted that the housing units allocated to their area was grossly inadequate and not befitting to the area.
They however noted that the 2,000 units allocated to Bauchi Emirate is fair since it is the headquarters of the state.
Spokesman of the groups, who is Chairman of Ningi Grassroots Development Association, Yusuf Danyaya, told Journalists in Bauchi that in allocating the houses, Bauchi got 1,500 which is fair while Katagum got 350, Misau got 250 with Ningi having 200.
Danyaya said; “Is there justice here? These are all indices of injustice that we see and we don’t know what factors or criteria is used.
“Is it history, we have it, is it population, if it is that, we have the population and if it is the size of the town, we also merit it. So, what is it that we have done to the state government or the people of the state that that they rate us low?”
The representatives traced the history of Ningi Emirate saying; “It is an ancient town and this is known to all. It got its Native Authority (NA) in 1902 and it was one of the six that was created, that is ahead of Kano and Sokoto and those created after Ningi have all been developed.
“We don’t know what we have done to the state government in that whatever comes up, they try to suppress and disregard us.
“In terms of population based on the 2006 census, Ningi Local Government Area, is the most populated out of the 20 LGAs in the state after Bauchi. In the North-East, Ningi is the third most populated LGA, after Maiduguri and Bauchi metropolitan.
“In Northern Nigeria, Ningi LGA is the ninth most populated and most of those bigger than Ningi are metropolitan. In the whole country, out of the 774 LGAs, Ningi is the 26th most populated, but despite these, we are always being neglected,” Danyaya claimed.
He continued; “We have been fighting for these since the return to democracy in 1999. Although, the Governor Bala Mohammed-led administration is just coming and we have noticed that it is tilted towards being just to all.
“It is because of this that we are appealing to it as we have always done in the past and nothing was done hoping that it will give Ningi its rightful position”.
On electricity, the groups lamented that the area is lacking electricity supply over the years saying, “Firstly, electricity is the right of every Nigerian and which he is entitled to and if you don’t benefit from it, you have the right to demand for it.”
Danyaya lamented that Ningi, Ganjuwa, Warji and parts of Burra have been left out from benefitting from electricity saying; “We don’t know what is wrong, we don’t know what we have done for the power distribution company that they have exempted us from enjoying this social amenity?”
The groups further said; “There is what is called urban centers in a state. It is laughable that Ningi is not included among them. If Ningi is not an urban center, which places can be called urban centers in the state? What criteria are used to call any place an urban center that Ningi hasn’t met? And yet we are being rated as a rural area, this is clearly Injustice.”
