PRIORITIZING DEMOLITION

BY

  

Jim Gami Makama
     Jimak127@gmail.com 

The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) declared Kaduna State as a Malnutrition Endemic State with over 1.6 million children suffering from Malnutrition.

During a two-day 2016 mid year review meeting  in Kaduna, Dr. Florence Oni, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist made the declaration.

According to her, malnutrition was responsible for the death of 50% Children under Five years in the State.

One will recall that the Governor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasir El-rufai on 18th January, 2016 flagged off the School Feeding Program  (SFP) in public schools in Kaduna State.
Governor El-rufai claimed to be feeding about 1.5 million pupils in public schools. While some of us raised concern and fears about the quality of the food and the negative effect (health wise) it might have on our Children, some hailing hailers went ahead to praise the accidental Governor  on such misplaced priority.

Beside the fact that lot of funds that should be use in enhancing the welfare of citizens and providing good infrastructures,  good health care facilities etc is being use to feed our Children with something the Governor calls "meals".

The 2016 Mid-year UNICEF report has exposed the bad policies of Mr Governor and has confirmed our fears.

This therefore, is enough reason for Mr  Governor to immediately and Officially stop the so-called School Feeding Program with immediate effect as it keeps endangering our Children and younger ones, and this will also stop his cronies maximizing this opportunity to loot and steal our public funds.

One will expect Mr Governor to concentrate on this report and save the lives of about 900,000 Children stunted due to malnutrition based on the 2016 UNICEF report, Mr Governor is concentrating on demolishing citizen houses, they built this houses with their hard earn money, retirement money, personal savings for years and from loans some are still paying till date.

I wouldn't want to mention the unending salary Saga, lack of prompt payment of pensions benefits of retired civil servants. potholes on our major roads turning them into death traps, our dilapidated schools and healthcare system, poor service delivery, no meaningful development on ground etc.

This Government must know that it is their social responsibility to provide Shelter to its people and not rendering them homeless. Demolition was not part of the social contract that was signed between this government and the electorate before the last general elections. I remember in November 2014 when Mallam Nasir El-rufai was asked if he will demolish houses in Kaduna like he did in Abuja and his response was “For those worrying about the demolitions that took place in Abuja, I assure you that Kaduna and Abuja are different in history, growth and priorities. We did what needed to be done in Abuja to make it a true national capital. In contrast, what Kaduna needs are better schools, health facilities and productive farms in an atmosphere of improved peace and security. That will be the focus of the APC, not the scaremongering of impending demolition" I know people do anything and go to any length to get power, I hope El-rufai Proves me wrong.  If these words were truly his, i leave him with his conscience.