Group Urges Tinubu To Give Southern Kaduna Ministerial Slot

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The Southern Kaduna Journalists Forum (SKJF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to appoint a Southern Kaduna person to fill the state’s ministerial slot. Tinubu had earlier nominated former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai for the ministerial appointment.

However, the senate withheld his confirmation, citing security reports from the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement yesterday in Kaduna, SKJF said giving the ministerial slot to Kaduna South senatorial zone, will ensure fairness and inclusiveness.

The statement jointly signed by Bali Ango and Lilian Zubairu, chairman and secretary of the group respectively, alleged that throughout the eight year administration of El-Rufai and former President Muhammadu Buhari, the area did not benefit from federal appointments.

“The SKJF forum, an advocacy group that seeks to advance the cause of development of Southern Kaduna senatorial zone, through reportage, is appealing to President Bola Tinubu to allocate the ministerial slot for Kaduna State to the senatorial district,” the statement said.

The forum noted: “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 to carry every section along.”

According to the group, there was an existing arrangement at the return of democracy in 1999 to carry every section along in the governance of the state by ensuring fair representation of all sections in government.

According to the group, the arrangement was such that if the governor of the state is from the northern part, the ministerial appointment and the position of the Secretary to the State Government goes to the southern part of the state and vice versa. This ensured equity, fairness, and inclusive governance.”

The group alleged however that, “between 2015 and 2023, former governor El-Rufai disregarded the arrangement.

The group alleged: “Throughout the eight years of the El-Rufai administration, the southern part of the state was denied top government positions.”

The statement said: “Currently, Governor Uba Sani is from the northern part of the state, 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 (SSG).

“In spite of these lopsided appointments of principal offices in favour of the northern part of the state, the ministerial position allocated to the state was still reserved for El-Rufai from the northern part.

“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 senatorial zone.

“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 senatorial zone closer to the government and in return, align their interests with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.