Southern Kaduna residents advocate national conference, military base

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By Tony Akowe, Kaduna 4 hours 10 minutes ago

Residents of southern Kaduna , Kaduna State , yesterday called for the convocation of a sovereign national conference to discuss fundamental issues concerning the coexistence of the various ethnic nationalities.
They asked for a military base in Kafanchan to protect the lives and property of the residents following last month’s post-election violence.
The southern Kaduna residents urged the creation of Gurara State to ensure peace, progress and stability of the area, noting that the source of mistrust between the residents and the Hausa/Fulani had been on political power.


Addressing reporters under the auspices of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), its president, Prof Ishaya Nock, said the national conference should address zoning and religion, among others.
Nock noted that from recent developments, power sharing should no longer be the preserve of political parties but an issue for ethnic nationalities for Nigeria ’s existence.
Lamenting the massive loss of lives and property during last month’s post-election violence in the state, Nock said a platform for dialogue should be created among northern minorities and the major tribes to discuss their differences, including religion, politics, culture, structure and the general interest of every ethnic nationality.
According to him, there is no need to continue to "fool or deceive ourselves that we are one Arewa when in reality we are deeply divided and even scheme from time to time to kill and destroy the property of the Christians".
He said: "Note that the lives of the minorities in the North have been and are still being threatened. The Hausa/Fulani are carrying out ethnic cleansing against minorities in the North by constantly destroying their churches, property and killing them."
Nock called for the introduction of free and compulsory primary and secondary education, urging the Federal Government to implement its policy on almajiri and "area boys" education and their likes across the country.
He said parents of young miscreants should be sanctioned for their parental failure, adding that there must be legislation against parents who breed children without inculcating the fear of God in them.
Justifying the demand for Gurara State , Nock said: "The source of mistrust and acrimony is political power and the control of state resources, where politicians from the northern part have created the impression that they were born to rule and consequently always use Islam to whip up sentiments against southern Kaduna people."