SOKAPU felicitates Emir of Zazzau

The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) youth wing has felicitated with the Zazzau Emirate Council and the Government of Kaduna State on the emergence of His Royal Highness, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as the new Emir of Zazzau.

A statement issued by the National youth leader, Comrade John Isaac Sir Jay, SOKAPU said while it share in the joy of the Zazzau people over the appointment of a new monarch, said it is however enmeshed in deep sorrow over the abduction and subsequent gruesome murder of the revered paramount ruler of the Adara Nation who was a 1st class monarch, Dr Raphael Maiwada Galadima (JP).

“We recall that at the death of the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness Dr Shehu Idris, Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai declared a 3-day mourning in the state, with the third day declared as holiday for the state citizens. Sadly, when the Agwom Adara was murdered on October 19, 2018, nearly two years ago, Governor el-Rufai neither declared any day for mourning nor a holiday in his honour.

“Painfully, neither the governor nor his then deputy, Arch. Bala Barnabas Bantex, attended the funeral of the slain traditional ruler that took place in Kachia. Therefore, the disposition of el-Rufai in according respect and honour to the late Emir of Zazzau shows that the Kaduna State Governor has different rules for people of the North and South,” the statement said.

SOKAPU youth wing said it commends the speed with which the entire process of appointing a new monarch for the Zazzau Emirate Council was carried out by the governor, but added that they are unhappy that nearly two years after the assassination of the Adara first class monarch, Governor el-Rufai is yet to appoint a new paramount ruler for the Adara people.

“As if the disdain displayed by the el-Rufai was not enough, the illegal balkanisation of the Adara Chiefdom to provide for the creation of Kajuru Emirate remains the greatest insult unleashed on Southern Kaduna people.

“To add salt to injury, the illegal scrapping of the Adara Chiefdom to pave way for the creation of Kajuru Emirate was made known by the Kaduna State Government few days after the murder of the Adara monarch.

“While investigation and the prosecution of the alleged killers of the Adara paramount ruler remains shoddy, the refusal by the Kaduna State Government to appoint a new Agwom Adara shows the existence of two rules for two monarchs said to share equal status.

“We make bold to declare that the handling of processes leading to the appointment of a new Emir of Zazzau has finally unmasked Governor El-Rufai as governor whose penchant to enthrone a segregationist system is never in doubt. For several years now, the people of Southern Kaduna have continued to speak out against the glaring injustices unleashed by the governor as reflected in his deliberate policy of ensuring political domination, unfriendly policies, skewed appointments and project execution, judicial bullying, economic deprivation and impoverishment, among others.

“With 51% and 56% of the entire state population and land area respectively belonging to Southern Kaduna, there is no reason why our people should not be equal partners in running the affairs of the state. It is, however, unfortunate that Governor el-Rufai seems to be so fanatical about his tribe, religion and political leanings, as truth and justice no longer matter in the state.

“SOKAPU Youth Wing is calling on el-Rufai to rethink his disposition and policies in the interest of democracy in order to achieve social harmony, genuine peace and development for the state to immediately appoint a new Agwom Adara and rescind his government’s decision to balkanize the Adara Chiefdom,” the statement added.