CURFEW IN SOUTHERN KADUNA; MORO'A YOUTHS BLAME SOKAPU

SOKAPU LEADERS

With the crisis that enveloped parts of Southern Kaduna penultimate week resulting in the Kaduna state Government imposing a 24hr curfew in the affected areas, youths of Moro’a in Kaura Local Government have put the blame on the doorsteps of SOKAPU.

Recall that with the imposed curfew, residents of the affected three local government councils; Jema’a, Zagon Kataf and Kaura local governments respectively, which were affected due to the protests described as violent, resulting to a break-down of law and order, would be placed on restrictions despite the Christmas celebrations.

 According to the angry youths from Moro’a who are blaming the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) for the development, the imposition of the curfew has led to the  postponement of the 50th anniversary celebration of its paramount ruler, Mallam Tagwai Sambo earlier scheduled to take place on Saturday, 24^th December, 2016.

Dr. Solomon Musa, the SOKAPU’s National President in a swift reaction to the allegations from the Moro’a youths, described the allegations as strange saying, “the Union was not in the first place aware of any protest staged in Kafanchan, let alone talk of participating in it”.

Dr Solomon who is the leader of 67 ethnic groups that make up SOKAPU said; “the Union was not against any peaceful protest and had never excluded any Southern Kaduna community from its activities, but such allegations which were baseless, was only the handiwork of mischief makers”.

He urged those behind it to come out in the public to make their grievances clear.

NewsAlert, in its investigations reliably gathered that Saturday, 24^th December had been scheduled for the 50th anniversary and the 80th birthday of the Paramount ruler of Moro’a chiefdom, Mallam Tagawi Sambo but had to be postponed following imposition of a twenty four hours curfew in his kingdom.

Chairman of the youth, Mr. Zachariah Bako while addressing the media in Manchok on Saturday, decried the bias treatment meted out on some Community Development Associations, like the Moro’a Development Association by the SOKAPU leadership, adding that the Union was insensitive to individual programs of some member Associations.

The poor leadership provided by SOKAPU has caused the Moro’a community to feel relegated to the background, Bako lamented.

“The Union did not organize any protest in 2014 where hundreds of lives and property worth millions of naira were lost in similar attacks in Moro’a chiefdom but was quick to organize a demonstration on the crisis in Godogodo. This selective treatment does not give the Moro’a community a sense of belonging”, Zachariah stated.

SOKAPU however, while clarifying that members of Moro’a community who are in key positions in the Union included its National Auditor, Legal Advisor and Assistant Treasurer, added that, “we have so much respect for the Chief of Moro’a”.

Tasked on the alleged exclusion of the Deputy Governor, Arc Barnabas Bala Bantex from its meetings, the SOKAPU President said the Union had never excluded the Deputy Governor in its Stakeholder’s meeting.

“The Deputy Governor holds a high position in the State and as such, he could not have been part of other meetings like consultative or tribal meetings”, he said.