By Ibrahim Bunu
The circumstances surrounding the people of southern Kaduna is a clear definition of injustice. Injustice being defined as a quality or situation associated to unfairness or underserved outcomes is at great play against my people being meted to us by my state. How well would one explain that even when it is known that the people of our region has single handedly sustained the party’s leadership in the state, yet they have been treated as aliens in the seat of government by this same party. Would it be right to say that the people of Southern Kaduna are not indigenous enough to hold leadership positions? Must they be regarded are second class citizens?
These and many more are the issues that will have to be brought to the table and discussed clearly so as not to find the need to search for the black sheep in the dark hours. Even if we may not have cause to relate to history, but would it be regarded as coincidence that since the advent of democracy in this republic, that No southern Kaduna indigene has been found fit enough to be selected and voted into power except for a advantageous situation that elevated a northern governor to the office of the Vice President in 2010, thereby allowing a second fiddled deputy governor to be accepted as Governor. Even before he was accepted to fly the flag of the party in the 2011 elections when short cuts and gimmicks could not be sustained, there were great debates on his eligibility and acceptance by the North. Did he last in government? No he did not, as an alleged act of God could not allow him successfully spend 2 years in power. And then the owners of the party got back their grove to our detriment. We were advised by our leaders to accept the act of God and move on. Could it be a coincidence that leadership has always found its way back to those that are supposedly seen as those that has been divinely born, only as rulers over my people.
In as much as we are made to believe in coincidence, how do we justify the fact that after Governor Ahmed Muhammad Markafi from the northern senatorial zone of the Kaduna, completed an eight (8) year term in 2007, went back on his promise, and invited the Zaria born Architect consultant of his government from his senatorial zone, and presented him as a sole candidate for the party that was expected to be voted in by my own people of the southern Kaduna. How do you explain the fact that even when there was no viable politician in the north as at the time, an unprepared civil contractor was best as governor from the north, rather than Ibrahim Yakowa the sitting deputy governor from southern Kaduna who was already a rugged politician after holding several offices including the office of the SSG in the state before his appointment as deputy governor after the unfortunate death of Stephen Shekari, the deputy governor in July 10, 2005.
Are we different from other states in the Nigerian Federation that we do not have the zoning system in place so as not to have two Governors simultaneously originating from the same zone in two different dispensations of leadership? How do you justify the fact that Governor Ahmed Markafi was from the Northern zone (Zone 1) and was succeeded by Governor Namadi Sambo also from Zaria also in the same zone? How do you justify that. And even when the Late Patrick Yakowa was grudgingly allowed to represent the party in the 2011 elections, there was no peace in my dear state till the man died. He was then replaced by the same zone in person of the present governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Yero. Would it be justifiable if Yero is forced on the people of Kaduna when he is also from the same zone of the last 2 Governors? On what justification? His performance or his relationship with the people of Kaduna? Alhaji Yero has been openly rejected by the people of not only Kaduna but by even his people. He has no political value to the party as he could not even avail the party with a councilor from his ward, not to mention other elective positions in his State and Federal constituencies. How can such a governor deserve the votes of my people?
I am using this medium to express the feelings of not only my people but the people of the entire Kaduna that have placed their loyalty with the People’s Democratic Party. The party supporters in the state have no business voting in an incompetent governor just because he is from the zone of the born to rule. We cannot support mediocrity in the name of religion. If our party, the PDP is being sustained by those that have availed the party with counselors, State house of Assembly members, Federal House of Representatives and a Senator, why would it be a herculean task to allow these same people avail the party with a state governor?
Would it be fair then for my people to give full support to the party if the state party insist that my people our only good is to remain the goose that lays the golden egg to be eaten by the born to rule? A closer look at the present cabinet explains further to show the disregard on our people. Apart from the infrastructures put in place by our son the late Governor Yakowa in his short stay in office, what other benefits or infrastructure has been accorded my people that will justify our siddon-look attitude of allowing the wind blow by default.
Now is the time for our dear state to accord my people the deserved respect as we have presented three (3) of our sons to be availed the right to be presented as the party flag bearers. it won’t be proper for the party to still deem it fit to return another candidate from zone one at the detriment of those that has sustained the party in all these years. it won’t be right to give the impression that only the Northern Zone has the monopoly to lead Kaduna state. It won’t be right to sustain the impression that southern Kaduna indigenes are not good enough, NO, it won’t be fair to our people. It may amount to the need of having a self-rule since we are not perceived as being qualified enough. It will be an injustice against a people, and it should be frowned at and rejected.
