Forum urges Tinubu to allocate Kaduna ministerial slot to Southern Kaduna
The Southern Kaduna Journalists’ Forum (SKJF), a media advocacy group, has urged President Bola Tinubu to give Southern Kaduna the Kaduna State ministerial post in the sake of equity and inclusive administration.
Mr. Ango Bally, the forum’s chairman, made the announcement at a news conference in Kaduna on Wednesday.
Bally stated that the candidate might be anyone who is capable, regardless of party or religious affiliation.
He emphasised that past governments have exhibited a fair distribution of appointments between the northern and southern portions of the state since the return of democracy in 1999.
He went on to say that between 1999 and 2014, the northern and southern sections of the country shared major political viewpoints.
“When the governor is elected from the northern part of the state, a ministerial appointment and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) are given to the southern part, and vice versa.”This method of sharing ensured equity, fairness, and inclusive governance.
“For example, the northern region of the state produced the governor, Mr. Ahmed Makarfi, and a minister, former Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, between 2003 and 2007.
“The southern part of the state produced the deputy governor, SSG, and a minister when the state was allocated two ministerial slots,” he explained.
The chairman, on the other hand, stated that between 2015 and 2023, the governor (El-Rufai), as well as the two ministers appointed by the state and the SSG, will be from the northern part.
He went on to say that the development had left the southern region with only the role of deputy governor.
The chairman stated that during Gov. El-Rufai’s eight years in office, the southern half of the state was also denied the SSG position, which was contrary to previous precedent.
“The situation has not changed, as the governor, Sen. Uba Sani, is from the northern part; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tajjudeen Abbas, and the Speaker of the State Assembly, including the SSG, are also from the northern part.”
“Despite this lopsided allocation of principal offices in the state in favour of the northern part, the state’s ministerial slot was still reserved for El-Rufai from the northern part.”Southern Kaduna was thus left with only the deputy governorship.
“We believe that since El-Rufai has declined the ministerial position, it is only fair that the slot be filled by someone from the south.”
“On this premise, we are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to consider picking El-Rufai’s replacement from Southern Kaduna for equity, fairness, and inclusion,” he stated.
He expressed hope that Tinubu’s selection of the minister from Southern Kaduna will bring the people closer to the government and, as a result, connect their interests with the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
This, he argued, would offer the people of Southern Kaduna a sense of inclusion at both the state and national levels.”
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Tinubu nominated El-Rufai for the ministerial position, but he was not confirmed by the Senate.
Mr. Ja’afaru Sani, a commissioner in E-Rufai’s cabinet, was later recommended for the job when E-Rufai denied the nomination.