By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON, Kaduna.
The Youth Wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has openly condemned the plans of establishing military bases in the region, describing it as counter productive, noting that they have lost confidence in the government’s protective role of its citizens, vowing to set up a Civilian Task Force to protect its people.
This was part of observations raised at SOKAPU National Annual Youth Congress held at the St John’s Multi-Purpose Hall, Kachia at the weekend, as contained in a communiqué jointly signed by its National Leader, Nasiru Jagaba and Secretary General, Bazimbe.
“The Southern Kaduna people have lost totally, their confidence in the ability of the government to protect the lives of people and property in Southern Kaduna.
“To write to the Federal and government of Kaduna State to halt the ongoing project on the establishment of grazing reserve or operations of same in Southern Kaduna as our communities have equivocally rejected the citing of such facilities in our land. We are however open to other agricbusinesses being driven by the Federal Government through the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP),” it said.
As part of the resolutions adopted, the group said that the Police should be better equipped and positioned to face the security challenges, rather than the use of the military.
“In appraisal of the Southern Kaduna security breach, we understand that our challenge is inadequate structure of formations and command of the Nigerian Police Force in effective of the Southern Kaduna communities. To this end we call on the Federal Government to face this matter head on and rescind her decision to establishing two army battalions which we find counterproductive with the current military facilities in Southern Kaduna and environs is adequate with only a command structure of the NPF amiss to deal effectively with crime and security in the area,” it stated.
SOKAPU Youths also resolved to initiate and support litigations to challenge the impunity with which the Governor of Kaduna State has refused to adhere to the court ruling on local government elections in the state.
“It is also in the interest of this congress to advice the governor against the intended tactics to appeal on the ruling, long after two months of inaction as feet dragging effort to short change the people of their rightful mandate.
“We also decry the monumental corruption ongoing in the state where monies belonging to the local government such as excess crude revenues, value added tax, federal allocations fail to impact positively in communities across the state due to the overbearing possessiveness of the state government,” it pointed out.
They called on the humanitarian agencies, non-governmental organizations such and other agencies of government to join in the efforts SOKAPU is making through its relief materials committee towards alleviating the sufferings and malnutrition challenges facing internally displaced persons in Southern Kaduna.
While further charging youth from the area to engage and monitor the budget process and programme implementation in Kaduna State, Nigeria and to commence the preparation of the scorecard of budget performance.
SOKAPU Youth also appealed to its members to encourage and promote increased participation of Southern Kaduna youths in the economy, governance and politics of Nigeria.
The meeting emphasized the need to convene a mega congress that will offer Southern Kaduna youths, under SOKAPU Youth Wing, the opportunity to engage their challenges and proffer constructive solutions.
