SOUTHERN KADUNA PEOPLES’ UNION
Communiqué
Tuesday, July 4th 2017
COMMUNIQUÉ REACHED AT THE END OF SOKAPUS’ KEY STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT WHICH TOOK PLACE AT NEW CHOICE HOTEL, KAFANCHAN ON 24TH JUNE, 2017
The Summit which recorded an unprecedented gathering of over a Thousand critical key stakeholders of Southern Kaduna People unanimously agreed on the following issues after several hours of exhaustive deliberations:
1. The closure of tertiary institutions in Southern Kaduna from December, 2016 to now, was examined and Summit could not find any justification or rationale for their continued closure in view of the fact that the Government has given assurances that security has been restored. More so that Primary and Secondary Schools, government agencies, markets and other public institutions have been normally carrying out all activities peacefully. Consequently, SOKAPU calls on the Government to re-open the closed institutions immediately unless the Government has some hidden motives for their continued closure.
2. In view of the trauma and losses caused to students and parents by the continued closure of the tertiary institutions and also by the disconcerting fact that Southern Kaduna has no alternative private institutions, it was settled that SOKAPU should make wide consultations and take all necessary steps to establish its own community institutions.
3. To strengthen the operations and implementation of all initiatives of Southern Kaduna, all bona fide Southern Kaduna people worldwide are requested to obtain the registration form of SOKAPU through their CDAs, Branches and Chapters for the purpose of registration. Persons of Southern Kaduna who have attained adult age shall not claim membership of SOKAPU unless registered and allotted membership identification number. Membership registration, it was agreed, will confer several benefits to registered members.
4. With regards to the structure of traditional institutions including the position of district heads, Summit noted that the structures arose as result of the yearnings, desires and aspirations for those institutions as they came to be constituted. The traditional institutions became necessary in Kaduna State, taking into account the rich diversity and plurality of the State. Summit also noted their critical roles in bringing peace and stability to the entire State.
5. The Summit noted that the major reason advanced by government’s rationalization or sacking of the district heads was paucity of funds for their remuneration. Finally, it was noted that the sacking of the district heads was done with scant regard to the feelings of the people and without any form of consultation with the communities in Kaduna State.
In view, therefore, of the above, Summit:
1. Condemns the sacking of the district heads as retrogressive and not in sync with the yearnings and aspirations of the people;
2. Calls on the state government to reverse its decision.
3. Affirms the readiness of the 53 community development associations of Southern Kaduna to take over the responsibility of the payment of emoluments and remunerations of all the district heads affected.
4. Views negatively the directive/call on persons/individuals to apply or re-apply for the available position of district heads as divisive, autocratic, in bad faith and unfathomable. Summit believes that it will be imprudent, improper and not in good taste for anyone to apply or re-apply for such positions which are and ought not to be vacant in the first place.
5. On the call for restructuring Nigeria, the meeting supports the agitation but insists Southern Kaduna must be represented at the negotiating table with all other groups in a fair, balanced and acceptable manner.
6. Agreed on the resolution reached in the June 21 Communiqué of the Middle Belt Forum which insists that Nigeria be restructured into 12 confederating regions.
7. Summit unanimously called for the implementation of the 2014 Confab report as the starting point for the restructuring of Nigeria.
8. Summit calls for the continued agitation for the creation of Gurara State from the present Kaduna State.
9. Rejects as well as condemns the call for the expulsion of the lgbos from the North come October 1st, 2017. Summit disassociates itself from the expulsion order. SOKAPU stands in solidarity with Igbos against the parochial and sectional threats issued by a Coalition of exclusionists and sectional Youth groups.
10. What is worse, summit notes the fact that even though the Governor of Kaduna State issued an order for their arrest, Government has employed double standards in failing to demonstrate enough capacity to effect their arrests, whereas government has shown more than enough capacity to arrest, incarcerate and prosecute Southern Kaduna people.
11. SOKAPU reiterates its resolve to continue to have cordial and robust relationship with all progressive people in Kaduna state, communities and nationalities of the South-South; South-West; South -East and other parts of Nigeria.
Thank You.
Sign:…Barr Solomon K. Musa
SOKAPU President
Sign… Comrade Anto Ogah Ambi
National Secretary, SOKAPU