From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Southern Kaduna Journalists’ Forum (SKJF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to allocate Kaduna State Ministerial slot to Southern Kaduna for fairness and inclusive governance following the rejection of the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai by the Senate over alleged security issues.
The Forum is an advocacy group that seeks to advance the cause of development of Southern Kaduna zone through reportage of events.
They argued that if President Tinubu picks his minister from Southern Kaduna, it will bring the people of the region closer to the government and align their interests with Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.
The Forum expressed worry that the people of the zone had been politically marginalised since the All Progressive Congress (APC) came to power, adding that appointing the son of the soil will give the people of the region a sense of inclusion both at the State and national levels.
The Chairman of the Forum, Ango Bally, while addressing a press conference on Wednesday went down memory lane, saying, “Since the return of democratic governance in 1999, previous administrations, both at the state and national levels had demonstrated fair distribution of appointments between the northern and southern parts of the State.
“A precedent had been set between 1999 to 2014, wherein, when the governor of the state is elected from the northern part, the ministerial appointment and Secretary to the State Government goes to the southern part and vice versa. This ensured equity, fairness, and inclusive governance.
“For example, between 2003 and 2007, the northern part of the state produced the Governor (Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi), and the Minister (Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai), while the southern part the Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government and another ministerial slot, when the state was lucky to have two Ministerial slots.
“However, between 2015 and 2023, the Governor was from the northern part (el-Rufai), along with the two ministers nominated from the state, leaving the southern part with only the position of the Deputy Governor.
“Throughout the 8 years of Governor El-Rufai, the southern part of the state was denied the SSG position, as against the tradition in the past.
“Currently, the Governor (Uba Sani) is from the northern part; the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Dr Tajjudeen Abbas) and Speaker, State Assembly are from the northern part; including the Secretary to the State Government.
“In spite of this lopsided appointments of principal offices in favour of the northern part, the ministerial position allocated to the state was still reserved for el-Rufai from the northern part.
“The southern part of the state was left with only the Deputy Governor’s seat. It is our conviction, therefore, that since El-Rufai has declined the ministerial position, it is only fair that the slot be given to someone from the southern part of the state.
“We hereby make a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to please consider picking el-Rufai’s replacement from Southern Kaduna for equity, fairness, and inclusion. The candidate could be any competent person from Southern Kaduna, irrespective of party, or religious affiliation.
“We are of the strong conviction that if Mr President picks his minister from Southern Kaduna, it will bring the people of the region closer to the government and in return, align their interests with Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.
This will equally give the people of Southern Kaduna a sense of inclusion both at the state and national levels.”