Dr Andrew Duya Makarau
General Yakubu Gowon created North Central State with Kaduna as its capital in 1967. This state comprised what are now Kaduna and Katsina States.
During our time as North Central, all the District Officers (DOs)—equivalent to today’s Local Government Chairmen—were from Southern Kaduna. The same was true for Sub-Treasurers (the local government finance commissioners), who were predominantly from Southern Kaduna.
At that time, most of the Principals of existing post-primary schools, including Women’s Teachers Colleges, Government Secondary Schools, and Teachers Colleges, hailed from Southern Kaduna, with very few exceptions. At the Kaduna State Ministries, the majority of Directors and Heads of Government Departments were also from Southern Kaduna, as were a significant number of Civil Servants.
On 23 September 1987, Military President General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida carved out Katsina State from Kaduna State, effectively consigning the name North Central to the history books. The new Katsina State lacked sufficient Civil Servants to manage their Ministries and Departments, leading them to appeal to the Kaduna State Government for assistance. The majority of the Civil Servants sent to Katsina were from Southern Kaduna. I recall a friend who received an appointment letter and was posted to Safana in the new Katsina State.
With such a wealth of seasoned Civil Servants, our region should have assumed direct control of the new Kaduna State in 1987. Yes, it was our region—the Southern Kaduna region! But, unfortunately, that did not happen. What a pity!
So, what went wrong? Why are we not in control of our State today? Why didn’t we take over then?
You will agree with me that we didn’t take charge because the leaders and elders of Southern Kaduna never thought about the future of our people. We lacked a plan or agenda that our community could rally around.
Today, who controls Kaduna State? They are not from Southern Kaduna! A senior official in the current Government of Kaduna State recently lost his father, and the burial took place in the far north, indicating his origins.
During General Sani Abacha’s administration, attempts were made to establish our own State, but this was thwarted by the attitudes of our leaders. Some wanted Rigacikun to be the boundary, while others preferred River Kaduna as the natural boundary, which I supported. However, some factions sought Kachia as the boundary to secure the Kaduna Refinery for themselves.
Had we accepted River Kaduna as our boundary and successfully attained our own State, all industries in Kakuri, including the Army barracks up to the Kaduna Refinery, would have been on our side.
The late General Oladipo Diya (of blessed memory) advised us to accept any boundary proposed and “fight” for the inclusion of other parts later, but we did not heed his advice.
Other reasons posited by our people were unreasonable: they insisted that Rigacikun was the boundary set by Lord Lugard and that our Gbaghi people would be excluded and treated as minorities in another state. Moreover, they wanted to keep Kaduna metropolis on our side.
But, in reality, what did we truly need Kaduna town for? I struggle to find any place of economic value there.
The only notable sites in Kaduna metropolis are the Police College, Central Market, 1 Division headquarters, and the NDA. The state Secretariat, comprised of colonial buildings, is too old and expensive to maintain, lacking any true economic value.
As a people, we don’t have anything substantial at stake in Kaduna metropolis.
In fact, since the majority of us are Christians, Muslims have more at stake in Kaduna metropolis than we do. Besides the national Mosque in Abuja, the most prestigious mosque in Nigeria is the Sultan Bello Mosque at Kawo Kaduna. The headquarters of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI)—the Muslims’ equivalent of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)—is in Kaduna. Sir Ahmadu Bello and Sheikh Gummi are both buried in Kaduna, and the second headquarters of the Izala Islamic Sect is also located there.
Consequently, anyone fighting for control over Kaduna metropolis is essentially battling for the Islamic world, as Muslims regard Kaduna as their birthright. This is yet another reason they will never allow a Christian to become Governor of Kaduna State; they would prefer a Muslim, even if that Muslim is worse than Satan.
So, I ask, what do we, as Christians, have at stake in Kaduna metropolis?
Even some of the Gbaghi people, for whom we fought, do not consider themselves part of Southern Kaduna. One architect told me directly that he prefers working with the Hausa/Fulani rather than with us.
Had we reached a consensus to establish River Kaduna as the natural boundary, we would have stood a better chance of success than the faction that wanted Kachia as their boundary, which was merely antagonistic and aimed at “spoiling the show” for us.
Another point of division was the proposed capital of the new state. While the majority favoured Kafanchan, which lacks land for expansion, others suggested Kachia, which I supported.
Finally, regarding the name of the state, some favoured Gurara while others wanted Nerzit. But honestly, even if the name of the state were to be Makarau and the capital still Makarau, that shouldn’t have posed a problem. Let’s secure the state first, and we can address the rest later.
We must unite in our pursuit of our own state; this should be our primary focus.
Let me reiterate: we can develop our Southern Kaduna region without State or Federal Government support or intervention.
While our detractors rely on government patronage and support, Southern Kaduna possesses the human and material resources needed to propel our region forward.
I have heard that about ten or twelve citizens of Southern Kaduna have expressed interest in being chosen as Deputy Governor.
What a shame! Haba, jama’a!
We have effectively sentenced ourselves to the position of the “spare tyre,” and we are fighting each other for it!
An American saying goes, “If you want to know where you are and where you are going, you have to know where you are coming from.”
I’m not a historian, nor do I claim that this presentation is flawless, but I hope it provides insight into how we have fared over the years, leading to our current predicaments.
If we refuse to learn from history, we are bound to repeat the same mistakes and suffer the same unfortunate results year after year.
It pains me that we are still discussing the prospect of having our own state when we should be contemplating the creation of our own country.
Benin Republic is not larger than Lere LGA, and Togo is merely 45 kilometres wide, not even the size of Kachia LGA. We have everything necessary to become a successful and great nation.
Japan has no natural resources, yet it stands as a world economic power next to China.
What about us, with our abundant but untapped natural resources lying idle beneath the ground?
We have all the potential to be great, successful, powerful, and prosperous. We should be the envy of others.
YES! We can achieve this because it is doable! If anyone tells you it is impossible, tell them point blank that they are a blatant liar!
Whenever I express these thoughts, some label me as “too ambitious.” But is it a sin to be too ambitious? If so, then I am guilty! When it comes to the issues of Southern Kaduna, I make no apologies.
We have spoken extensively about unity. Allow me to quote a passage from the Holy Bible:
“And the LORD said, behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do, and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” (Genesis 11:6, KJV)
This was during the construction of the Tower of Babel.
Let’s reflect on what this verse conveys:
- It states, “behold, the people is one.” It does not say “the people are one,” but “the people is one!” This speaks to unity.
- They spoke the same language. Speaking the same language here means that we do not all need to speak Tyap, Adara, Ham, or Bajju, but rather agree to work together towards a common purpose.
- “Nobody will stop them from doing what they have begun to do.”
This implies that when a people unite to pursue a project or agenda, nothing can hinder them. Our detractors succeed because they are united.
We, the people of Southern Kaduna, have been unable to unite and work towards our common goals. We only pay lip service to the issues that hold us together. This is truly unfortunate!
Our inability to unite and pursue a shared objective stems from a lack of coherent, purposeful, focused, intentional, fearless, bold, and deliberate leadership.
Our primary challenge has been leadership failure. We have leaders, but we lack true leadership.
Let us pray that the LORD grants us a Moses, a Joshua, a Caleb, a Gideon, a Jephthah, or a Samson. Only then can we embark on the journey to the “Promised Land.” But for now, Southern Kaduna continues to wander in the wilderness of economic, security, and political turmoil.
Let me pose a familiar question that has drawn criticism from some Southern Kaduna citizens who do not share my perspective:
Southern Kaduna citizens, where are we headed? What is our focus? Do we have a plan, an agenda, a direction? What do we wish to achieve in the next five, ten, fifteen, or twenty years? Do we have any ideas worth pursuing? Sadly, I cannot identify any! This is truly unfortunate!
Our detractors have a plan: to conquer our land and people. What about us? Do we have a plan? What is our plan?
All I hear daily is that the Hausa/Fulani have done this or that against us! If they have wronged us, what have we done for ourselves? Who has tied our hands behind our backs or blindfolded our eyes?
With the high number of retired seasoned Civil Servants, military, police, and other paramilitary senior officers, first-class lawyers, engineers, accountants, professors, and numerous other professionals, we have failed and continue to fail to devise a simple method to move our region forward. We are only adept at complaining and grumbling about what our detractors are doing. We are highly educated, knowledgeable, exposed, energetic, intelligent, and above all, we have CHRIST! So, who can stop us? With GOD, we are unstoppable!
What is it that we cannot achieve?
Our region is blessed with arable soil, abundant vegetation, favourable weather, and sufficient rainfall. We can strive to be the best in the world.
Unfortunately, some of our millionaires or billionaires are only focused on building hotels where our young daughters are exploited, demeaned, and abused.
Our collective experiences during the last Federal and State governments should have taught us valuable lessons about looking inward instead of relying on a government that is uninterested in our progress.
In conclusion, this is my perspective, and I have shared my thoughts candidly. Please let us hear your views; perhaps you have an alternative that is better than mine.
I remain your brother,
Dr Andrew Duya Makarau
A concerned citizen
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