BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – The Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU) has declared that its political Party shall continue to remain Southern Kaduna, nothing more and nothing less.
It also declared that it shall continue to remain politically non-partisan just as it would not serve as an opposition party to governments be it at the local, state or federal level.
SOKAPU also assured that the people of Southern Kaduna will continue to be partners with governments at all levels, with development agencies and development partners.
Speaking at the handover of the leadership of the Union to the new officials in Kaduna, former National President of SOKAPU, Barrister Solomon Musa said, “SOKAPU is and shall remain throughout our watch, politically non-partisan. We kept fastidiously to our promise.
โConsequently, we shall work with all the aforementioned for the development of Southern Kaduna. Where a government does well, we shall cheer and encourage it, but, where government does not do well, we shall have the courage of our conviction to tell truth to power.
“We chose quiet diplomacy. We chose to lobby, to tow the path of dialogue, of reasoning, of persuasion and of knocking at doors. We chose discussion and dialogue over confrontation,” Musa said.
He explained that as a people, who believe in dialogue, all efforts to get the governor to a round table discussion for proper understanding proved abortive.
Musa further said; “For him (the governor), any form of dissent amounted to confrontation, rebellion and partisan opposition against the government. For him our call on our people, Christians and Muslims alike to take all available legal means to protect and defend themselves against terrorists amounted to a call to take the laws into our hands.”
“As far as I know, SOKAPU is the only Union in Southern Kaduna that embraced all ethnic nationalities and religions. SOKAPU is also the only cultural and community organization that draws membership from persons of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
“At the risk of sounding immodest, SOKAPU is the most pan-Kaduna State, pan-Nigeria and pan-peoples’ socio-cultural organization in Kaduna State and Nigeria. We are and have been arguably, the most patriotic, hospitable, peace loving and law abiding people and organization in Nigeria.”
He lamented that the liberality of the people of Southern Kaduna is taken for granted, adding that; “Unfortunately, our warmth and hospitality is taken for docility and weakness.โ
The immediate past National President of SOKAPU noted that the traditional rulers from Southern Kaduna were physically attacked.
In his words; “We lost the Etum Numana. We lost the Agom Adara. The Agom Akulu was kidnapped. The Chief of the Akurmi nation was unjustly incarcerated for months. Our traditional rulers domains were balkanized.”
Musa also said that the area faced threats of annihilation and near extinction, stressing that; “We had to face the existential threats staring us. We were on the brink of annihilation and near extinction akin to the aborigines of Australia. In the face of genocidal attacks against our people, certain questions came to the fore.
“One burning question is; where were our governments, local, state and federal. Indeed, where were our governments? Our governments, particularly, the state and federal governments refused to perform their constitutional role to secure the lives of Southern Kaduna citizens. What played out, sadly, was very unbelievable-nay-stranger than fiction.”
Musa also said that the people of Southern Kaduna strongly advocated for the implementation of the 2014 Confab report as well as the creation of Gurara state.
In his own speech, the new National President of SOKAPU, Mr. Jonathan Asake said that one of the cardinal objectives for which SOKAPU was founded is the unity of the diverse ethnic groups that constitute the union owing to their multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious nature.
Asake said; โWe shall pursue this goal to the letter.”
