Addressing a Press Conference in Kaduna yesterday under the Coalition of Southern Kaduna Groups, its coordinator, Barr. James Kanyip, a former Chairman of Kaura Local Government Area, LGA, also accused El Rufai of what he said was policy summersault.
He said: “Southern Kaduna, makes approximately 3 million in population, representing about 50% of the 6.066 million population of Kaduna State according to the 2006 National Population Census.
“We are bonded by same socio-cultural and historical ties, some dating back to the ancient Nok Terracotta civilization of the 500BC.
Southern Kaduna people, who welcome and embrace all comers, are therefore deeply indigenous and autochthonous people like other native populations, we are proud of our heritage and reject any policy that suggests that there are no indigenes or natives of Kaduna State.
“Gentlemen of the Press, the prevailing circumstances that we have found ourselves in Kaduna state today have made it imperative for this Coalition to address nagging issues under the government of Mallan Nasir El Rufai, before they got out of hand”, he said.
According to the Coalition, while El Rufai had stopped the banditry and cattle rustling in Birnin Gwari and environs, it said that he has done nothing to end the killings in Southern Kaduna.
Kanyip said: “Daily killings are going in Atakkar villages in Kaura LGA and and the Sanga road artery has become hot bed for violent robbery far worse than what was obtained in Birnin Gwari.
“The Governor would rather play blind to these happenings, because he probably feels he has no responsibility to protect those who did not vote for him. We just want to have it on record that he has abandoned Southern Kaduna people.
“Governor El Rufai has repeatedly asserted that Kaduna State does not have any indigene. He has even said that the “indigene” clause will be expunged from Kaduna State documents to make it possible for anyone who resides in Kaduna to gain equal access to everything that a native of Kaduna state may be entitled to.
“He has not only made this pronouncement, but has backed it up with the appointment of non-indigenes into prominent and key political positions. For instance, we have today an alleged wanted man has been brought into his government as a Special Adviser and is even regarded as the de facto Governor; Hadiza Bala Usman as Chief of Staff; Muyiwa Adekeye as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity; Peter Ayim as Special Assistant on Entrepreneur; Hafiz Bayero as Special Assistant on Job Creation; Hajiya Rabi Abdulsalam as Commisioner for Women Affairs; Hajiya Hadiza Yahuza as Interim Chairman of Chikun Local Government Council, among others.
“This is a very strange and curious behaviour since Sections 25, 26 and 27 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria has clearly stated the citizenship status of every bona fide Nigeria; and it states that a Nigerian citizen must be an indigene of a community in Nigeria. Those who are not of Kaduna State origin, though resident in the State, are citizens but not indigenes of Kaduna State because they cannot claim dual indigeneship. This is without prejudice to their fundamental and other rights as humans and citizens of Nigeria”, the group said.
Some of the groups and their representatives who attended the Press Conference were, Gurara Patriot Foundation, Vincent Bodam; Southern Kaduna Youth and student forum –SKYFORM, Mr Ganaka James Kogi; Southern Kaduna Progressive Union –SOKAPU, Youth Wing, Sabastine Luka. Others were: Southern Kaduna.Com, Bagudu Joseph; Souther Kaduna Women Entrepreneurs, Larai Ishaku; Southern Kaduna Ladies Forum, Grace Ndi Manasseh; Southern Kaduna Farmers Forum, Samuel Kambai and Southern Kaduna Lawyers Forum, Barr. Gloria Ballason.
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