The vice president to the federal republic of Nigeria, Architect Namadi Sambo has made a bold pronouncement calling for the creation of Gurara State for the people of Southern Kaduna. He made the call at the burial of Senator Balat yesterday.
According to the vice president, the people of southern Kaduna had contributed greatly to the building of Nigeria – and thus deserve a befitting reward for their efforts. The vice president spoke directly at the Speaker of the house of representative, Tambuwal and the Senate President, David Mark – who were both present at the burial. He told the two legislative leaders that – while he [Sambo] was governor he sponsored a drive for the creation of Gurara State. He went on to plead with the National Assembly to heed the call and move quickly with the necessary processes to see the creation of the State.
The vice president also noted that the people of southern deserve a federal medical center along with a federal university. To this, the audience who had gathered for the burial hailed the vice president.
Earlier, the president of the Southern Kaduna peoples union, the largest socio-political union in southern Kaduna, Dr. Ephraim Goje spoke at the burial stating that the people of southern Kaduna who were classified by the latest census figures as being the highest populated group in Kaduna – have very little to show for for their efforts in terms of development from federal or state. Dr. Goje pleaded for the federal government to establish a federal university of science and technology in kafanchan – and for the abandoned college of agriculture at Nuhu Banalli Polytechnic [Kaduna state polytechnic] in Zaria – to be converted to a federal university of agriculture. “We have also been clamoring for federal medical center…”
Dr. Goje pointed to the politics of the latest electioneering exercise in Kaduna state as the cause for the sustained marginalization of his people [the people of southern Kaduna]. The people of southern Kaduna had voted massively for the opposition party.
The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Yero was also present at the burial. He spoke on the security challenges plaguing the people of southern Kaduna. He promised that the security challenge will be tackled. In his words, “I am happy that the gov of plateau state is here. So we have been together to see how we can end the attacks in the area. Balat’s death was shocking. Why did he have to die now? But I want to live in peace with one another”
Other personalities who attended the wedding include – Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau State, Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Senator Nenadi Usman, Senator Solomon Ewuga, Senator Moh’d Aruwa, among others.
The burial was held at Gora Bahai – Zango Kataf LGA. Senator Balat died Wednesday last week at age 61 in Abuja en route to Germany. He is survived by two wives and five children.
