By Ahmed A. Usman, Kafanchan
Prominent sons and daughters of southern Kaduna have identified tribal politics as the main factor destroying the zone’s unity and hindering it from progress.
The stakeholders made the assertion at a unity summit in Kafanchan tagged “Path to Rebuilding Southern Kaduna Unity”, was convened by the Southern Kaduna Unity Frontiers (SKUF).
Delivering a paper on the theme, Dr John Danfulani, Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation to the Governor of Kaduna said politics was holding Southern Kaduna back because of the way it is being played in the area.
He decried the fact that politics of personal aggrandisement, ignorance, tribe and religion instead of competence had taken firm roots in the zone.
He warns that the path to unity has been destroyed by the kind of politics they play in the zone.
“We have relegated competence and capability to the background.
“We have turned our zone into a one party zone instead of going for what will bring development to us at any point in time,” he added.
In her remarks, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, said unity was of paramount importance in moving any society forward.
Balarabe called on the people of Southern Kaduna to appreciate their diversity and turn it into their strength instead of allowing it to be the cause of their disunity.
“Strife, in-fighting and the likes won’t get us anywhere, so it’s good we talk about our diversity and how we can take advantage of it,” she stated
Also speaking, Dr Abdulmalik Durunguwa, a Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission, said it was regrettable that Southern Kaduna was struggling to fulfill its potentials despite the abundant human and natural resources it is blessed with.
He advised the Southern Kaduna People’s Union to do more in uniting the zone and stop the seeming discrimination against people of certain tribes and religion.
On his part, Mr Audu Amba, National President of Nigeria Union of Teachers, urged the people of the area to learn to take responsibility for their actions and make amends rather than engage in blame games.
Amba called for purposeful leadership from political of the Southern Kaduna people to put the area on the path of sustainable growth and development.
Earlier in his welcome address, leader of the group, Maigamo Jude, said unity was a prerequisite for development, hence the need to organise the summit.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to sons and daughters of Southern Kaduna who have distinguished themselves in the area including the deputy governor.