Uba Sani and the Southern Kaduna Social Contract

By Nasir Dambatta

Governor Uba Sani’s recent trotting to sections of Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, reminds one of the classical principles of Social Contract, which sacredly requires the leader to keep his words and deliver on his promises to the led, according to his covenant with them.

Trotting around the state on his pre-2023 gubernatorial election campaigns, Senator Sani had promised the people of the zone aggressive but critical and strategic rural transformation and inclusivity if they voted him to power.

On the classical principle of give-and-take, both parties struck a covenant: Give me your votes, I will give you rural transformation and carry you along in my administration.

As honourable men and women they fulfilled their own part of the covenant by giving him their votes; as an honorable leader, he is fulfilling his own part by earnestly giving them the critical transformation, some would say, in the style of the Makarfi governance of the early 2000s.

This fascinating blend of honourable covenanting parties triggered a once-upon-a-time jubilation in the zone as Gov Sani launched new transformation projects in the prominent communities there.

Senator Sani’s first engagement there was the groundbreaking of the Vocational and Technology Skills Acquisition City in Samaru Kataf. It is a flagship project strategically aimed at sowing the seeds of aggressive and expansive economic reconstruction in accordance with the current global trend of technology-driven economy.

This project opens a vista into Governor Sani’s mind, revealing an ambitious idea of the Silicon Valley cluster of industries.

The governor then proceeded to Kafachan to flag-off the installation of 2,000 units of solar streetlights across the Zone and the repairs of vandalized transformers in Kafanchan. This is in full recognition of the fact that electricity is one of the few most-critical requirement of rural transformation and economic reconstruction.

He said the Vocational and Technology Skills Acquisition City in Samaru Kataf targeted the training of 800 youths in various vocations annually, as a significant step towards empowering the teeming population of the youth in the zone.

Underscoring his commitment to rural transformation, Governor Sani highlighted the significance of these initiatives.

“We are here for the groundbreaking of some important roads we want to construct across the eight local government areas of Southern Kaduna.

“Our administration’s primary focus is to revitalize the rural economy by connecting markets with farms, supporting farmers in transporting produce, creating jobs, and reducing poverty.”

Enumerating the array of projects, the governor unveiled plans for the construction of a wide network of key roads, rehabilitating vandalized transformers, and rebuilding the Zango Urban market—a testament to the administration’s dedication to addressing the community’s needs.

Governor Uba Sani reaffirmed, “We want to equip our youths so that they can compete favorably with their counterparts across the world in skills. This will enable them to be gainfully employed.”

The paramount ruler of Zangon-Kataf, the Agwatyap, Dominic Gambo-Yahaya, lauded Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to rural development and his support for the people of Zango-Kataf.

In recognition of his efforts, the Agwatyap honored the governor with the traditional title of ‘Chat Atyap,’ signifying his deep affection for the Atyap people.

The governor’s dedication to uplifting Southern Kaduna through comprehensive development projects resonated deeply, igniting hope and excitement among the residents for a brighter future ahead.

He minced no words in expressing the State’s gratitude to the government and people of the Kingdom of Morocco, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Nigeria, the Kaduna State Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology, and other stakeholders for their contributions in making this initiative a reality.

Take it or leave it, Governor Uba Sani’s fulfilment of yet another covenant with Southern Kaduna Senatorial District is quite strategic.

Dambatta is Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to the Governor