A WAKE UP CALL TO MY SOUTHERN KADUNA PEOPLE

 

By

 Steve Samuel TheRealist
(Stevesam644@gmail.com)

"The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression by the bad people but the silence by the good people. - Martin Luther King Jr."
For a very long time, the people of Southern Kaduna have been immensely OPPRESSED via political, ethnic and religious means. It is an undeniable fact that the interest of Southern Kaduna had constantly been undermined covertly and overtly. I reckon that no region in Nigeria had suffered despotism as Southern Kaduna has, the uneding killings being carried out with impunity by the fulani herds men, the lopsided appointment by the Kaduna State government and the high degree of nepotism displayed during jobs recruitment in the state are just little of
it.

Recently, the Governor of Kaduna state Mal. Nasir Elrufai reiterated his intention
over plans to demolish about 3000 houses at Gbagyi Villa, an area predominatly occupied by the Southern Kaduna people without offering them any compensation or alternative, intending to render thousands of people homeless. Apparently he derives so much pleasure in
seeing people living in severe pain and hardship. Therefore his attitude is unbecoming of a governor who is supposed to build Kaduna state to make it great again rather than destroying it with his bare hands. One would have expected Elrufai to wade into the land dispute between Gbagyi Villa residence and Kaduna polythecnic, perharps serve as a mediator so as to help unravel the complexity of the issue and proffer a lasting solution but he chooses to act on the complete opposite. His vigorous action toward escalating the issue gives credence to how much he abhor the Southern Kaduna People.

Now that it has become so glaring that Elrufai's action is been targeted at us. We should not let ourselves sink under oppression. It's time to take the bull by the horn. It's time to swing into action and not let grasses grow under our feet,
I'm calling on every individual from the southern kaduna region to take cognizance of the fact that we are all one and we're united in common values, lets protect the interest of our region at all cost. Disinterestedness, apathy and unconcern attitude could only cause us more harm than good like it had done a thousand times.

I want to suggest some reasons why we should bother to protest.

- IT IS DEMOCRACY IN ACTION:
We are still in a democracy and every citizen has a right to express their views in a peaceful
manner. As you glance through the news today, you'd find people from all over the world protesting on a variety of issues ranging from unemployment to the latest
government austerity measures, to the way banks are run and many more. It is not just happening in so-called "less" democratic countries but in countries that cherish democracy. Some issues need multi-pronged approach when the authorities are unresponsive.

- IT IS HEALTHY:

People need a space where they could express their unhappiness and it is imperative that they be given that space. Constant suppression of people's need to release pent-up frustrations could only lead to an explosion of anger as seen in the Arab Spring. Protests are healthy in the way they show up the feelings of the people and are symptoms of some underlying problems, not the problem itself.

- IT HIGHLIGTS ISSUES:
Issues that affect communities are many and they are all important to those affected by them. Often times issues would not be made known to the rest of the country or the world without a protest. This would especially be true in a country where the press are not absolutely free. How else would know about the persistent killings in the Southern Kaduna region perpetrated by the Fulani herds men. How many more injustices and abuses have gone unnoticed because it was not highlighted by the press and

- IT CAN BRING ABOUT CHANGES:
It would not be wrong to say that much of the course of world history is shaped by direct actions of the people.
Rulers who failed to serve the interest of their subjects or tried to oppress them are ALWAYS given a tough resistance.
Martin Luther King Jr said, "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." Protests led by Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, anti-apartheid protests worldwide, democracy movements in South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Burma and the Middle East have brought about seismic changes in their countries.

- IT UNITES PEOPL AROUND ISSUES:
 issues like injustices, freedom, corruption, abuses of power, crime, land grab and the environment affect all regardless of race, colour and creed.
As they saying goes "If you don't listen to the people, you will hear from the people." It's time for El-rufai to hear us now since he had emphatically refused to listen.
It's time for the World to hear us as well.
A stitch in time saves nine.