The Southern Kaduna Professionals Forum (SKPF) has cautioned political actors against dragging the region into ongoing controversies surrounding former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, stressing that the experiences of its people must not be reduced to political point-scoring.
In a statement issued in Kaduna and signed by its spokesperson, Arc. Samuel Yakubu, the forum declared that Southern Kaduna should not be used as leverage in elite political disputes.
“Southern Kaduna is not a tool for elite political battles. Our pain is not a campaign slogan, and our losses are not bargaining chips in power struggles,” the statement read.
The forum recalled that several communities in the region had faced persistent security challenges in recent years, leading to displacement, destruction of property, and loss of livelihoods. It noted that many families and farmers are still struggling to rebuild.
The group also referenced concerns raised by civil society organisations and residents over the impact of certain urban renewal policies on livelihoods, alongside broader debates about civic space during that period.
“The scars of those years are real. They live in displaced families, abandoned farmlands, struggling businesses and communities still trying to rebuild,” the forum stated.
While reflecting on past challenges, the SKPF acknowledged what it described as a shift in governance under the current administration of Governor Uba Sani. It cited reconciliation initiatives, peace-building meetings, security consultations, and inclusive engagement across Kaduna State as steps that have helped ease tensions and restore trust in parts of Southern Kaduna.
“Kaduna State must move forward on the pillars of justice, inclusion and shared prosperity. Healing requires sincerity, and rebuilding requires fairness,” the statement added.
The forum further highlighted ongoing federal and state-backed development efforts in the region, including the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia and the approval of a Federal Medical Centre in Kafanchan, describing them as significant strides toward improving access to education and healthcare.
It also pointed to rural road rehabilitation, electrification projects, and agricultural support programmes targeted at farming communities.
“These interventions are obligations of responsible governance. Southern Kaduna deserves development, not sympathy,” the group said.
The SKPF maintained that its position was not driven by revenge but by a demand for transparency and institutional accountability.
“Accountability is not persecution. Review is not revenge. Justice is not hatred. If governance decisions led to avoidable suffering, democratic institutions must examine them,” it stated.
The forum urged individuals and associations from the region to avoid alliances that could undermine the memory of those who lost their lives.
“The memory of those who lost their lives must not be trivialised for temporary alliances. Southern Kaduna must not be weaponised in political chess games,” it warned.
The statement concluded with a call for justice, unity, and sustainable development in Kaduna State.
“Power is transient. Authority is temporary. History is permanent. What our people seek is not political drama, but justice, unity and sustainable development.”
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