- Rejects North-west for Middle Belt zone
By Amos Tauna, Kaduna – Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has expressed bitterness over what it described as age-long socio-political marginalisation of their area by successive governments both at the Federal and State levels.
According to the Union, unless a State is created out of the present Kaduna, and the people are no longer classified within the north-west, but middle belt zone, it would be difficult for the area to have political headway under the circumstance.
SOKAPU also wants the 2014 National Conference report implemented by the Federal Government, saying; “It is the view of Southern Kaduna that the conclusions reached and recommendations of that conference on the future of the Nigerian federation on the issues of State creation/merger of states, devolution of powers, derivation principle, land tenure, federating units, fiscal federalism, local government autonomy, allocation of resources, geopolitical zones/regionalism etc., reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the Southern Kaduna people and Nigerians in general”.
A communiqué issued at the end of SOKAPU town hall meeting and read by its President, Solomon Musa at a media briefing in Kaduna, said the area and its people are facing serious political challenge in the present day Kaduna State, where it would be almost impossible for them to produce their son or daughter as the State Governor.
Over the years, Southern Kaduna has perpetually been confined to the Deputy Governor’s position until in 2010 when the jinx was broken with the then Deputy Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa mounting the exalted seat following Governor Namadi Sambo’s elevation to the position of Vice President under President Goodluck Jonathan.
However, tragedy struck on December 15, 2012 when Yakowa died in helicopter crash shortly after attending a burial ceremony in Bayelsa State.
The Union noted that this Deputy Governorship post in perpetuity has continued unabated with the current occupant being Barnabas Bala Bantex, a Southern Kaduna man, from All Progressive Congress (APC).
They people are also pushing for the country’s restructuring to address contentious issues such as: Resource control; ranching for Fulani herdsmen; and local government autonomy among others.
The communiqué further explained that; “The present delineation of Federal and State Constituencies, wards, local government areas, registration areas, polling units are deliberately skewed to the disadvantage of the people of Southern Kaduna and other ethnic minorities in the north so that a person of Southern Kaduna extraction for instance will find it almost impossible to aspire to hold certain critical positions in Kaduna State e.g. Governor.
“Therefore there is need to correct these structural imbalances that have been set up to always undermine the political aspirations of the southern Kaduna people. The constitutional provisions on periodic review of polling units and constituencies should be carried out with fairness and within the intendments of the constitution and before the next general elections in 2019. There is need to carry out constituency delineation at shorter intervals than the current 10 years as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
In addition, it stated that; “The Southern Kaduna people are also concerned that constituencies as presently delineated do not reflect the realities on ground, as the status quo has favoured some sections to the detriment of others. For instance, in most cases, federal and state constituencies in the southern part of Kaduna state are twice the sizes of Federal or State constituencies in other parts of the state.
“That Southern Kaduna reaffirms its position and the resolution of the 2014 National Conference for the creation of additional states including Gurara State. That the creation of a new state, i.e. Gurara State out of the present Kaduna State will meet the aspirations of the people of Southern Kaduna and their desire for self-determination and justice.
“The provisions of the 1999 Constitution on creation of states should be amended to make the creation of new states easier and less cumbersome. That the case for creation of another state out of the present Kaduna State is very cogent given that the population of the area in question is over 3,945,201 people and its landmass is over 26,076 km2. Analysis has shown that the new state will be viable given its rich agricultural potential, the solid minerals in the area and its abundant human capital.”
The Union is also backing calls to “review the law on grazing rights and issues around that; the creation of grazing reserves and so-called international stock routes exclusively for one ethnic group; sustained and violent armed attacks on autochthonous communities by terrorists for purposes of taking over their land and to prevent other people from rearing cattle, are issues that need to be addressed. Southern Kaduna is top on the list of areas that have suffered from the acts of the murderous herds men.
The gathering noted that government has no business funding private concerns to the detriment and exclusion of other businessmen and women, adding that rather than establishing grazing reserves, government should facilitate ranching as a modern method of livestock grazing.
Canvassing its position further, SOKAPU said; “Southern Kaduna, which is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic community of minority tribes who are non-migratory and agrarian in nature, does not fit into the identity of northwest, but that of the middle belt where they should be properly placed.
On power sharing and political appointments; the Union said; “appointment to public and political offices should reflect the unity, religious and ethnic diversity of Nigeria and the states. Furthermore, the allocation of public resources and development projects should be spread in such a manner that reflects our diversity and that no part of the country, state, local government area, community, religious or ethnic area/group and gender is left out or discriminated against or deliberately marginalized.
“The sharing of political power and development projects has tended to be to the disadvantage of Southern Kaduna. Over concentration of development projects, industries, educational institutions in the northern part of the state and away from Southern Kaduna has been on for ages. Admissions to public institutions have not reflected the diversity of Kaduna State for instance.
Condemning what it described as ‘Institutionalized discrimination where better-qualified persons from Southern Kaduna or other ethnic minorities are passed over for appointments into public office for lesser-qualified persons’, SOKAPU said; “This has always created a sense of alienation rather than inclusion. These structural imbalances need to be addressed.”
Addressing the issue of land tenure and Land Ownership, the Communiqué stated that; “the Land Tenure Law of Northern Nigeria 1948, revised in 1963, is what is imposed on the rest of the country in the Land Use Act of 1978. It has been applied without recourse and due consideration to the real owners of the land, thereby consistently denying owners of land such benefits that should accrue from owning the land. The inclusion of the Land Use Act in the Constitution makes it difficult to review it to reflect the evolving needs and realities of the time. The Land Use Act should therefore be removed from the Constitution and amended to reflect current realities.
The over concentration of power at the federal level also received knocks from the Union with the Communiqué proposing that; “More powers should devolve to the States and Local Government Areas by amending the Exclusive and Concurrent Legislative lists in part I and II respectively of the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution to give more power to the States and the Local Government Areas.”
On ownership and control over natural resources, it is SOKAPU’s opinion that “ethnic nationalities should enjoy reasonable measure of control over resources found in their domains, including a fair share of revenues accruing from those resources.”
The Communique stated that the creation of Chiefdoms, Emirates and other traditional institutions should reflect the history, culture and wishes of the indigenous and autochthonous communities of the affected areas, adding that; “these indigenous rights must be respected at all times and should not be denied the people.”
It argued that government “has no right whatsoever to name a community or deny them their original name that is based on their history:, noting that such practice would amount to “a deliberate programme for the elimination of the traditional institutions of the diverse peoples and cultures of northern Nigeria, and this affects mostly the minority ethnic nationalities.”
Other issues covered in the communiqué include the need for constitutional provisions to “recognize the rights of indigenous people and separate between citizenship, residency and rights of the indigenous people,” stressing that “these rights, which are different, should be clearly defined in line with the relevant UN and African Charters on the rights of indigenous people.”
It also attacked the imposition and operation of religious laws in Northern Nigeria and the violation of religious rights of minorities that has constantly created conflict, noting that; “This is a long-standing issue in many of the Northern States in Nigeria. It is essential that an atmosphere be created for every Nigerian to have his/her right to freedom of worship respected”, even as it rejected the use of state resources to sponsor religious pilgrimage as well as promote religious objectives and agenda of some groups.
On local government autonomy, SOKAPU said there should be legislative and financial autonomy for the Local Government Councils with a fixed tenure of four years.
It maintain “that Southern Kaduna is concerned about security of lives and property, particularly against the backdrop of terrorist activities unleashed on our people based on political and religious objectives”, adding that; “Wars being waged by militant groups and pastoralists for the confiscation of other people’s lands must be addressed if violent conflicts and local wars are to be stopped. We are equally concerned about uncontrolled immigration and settlement of persons in the country from other countries, thereby compromising national security in Nigeria.”
On the whole, the Communiqué submitted that; “It is the view of the Southern Kaduna people that if these issues are addressed, it will make for a better a federation that will truly meet the aspirations of all Nigerians, engender justice and equity and create an inclusive nation.”
