Bomba Dauda
A Coalition of Southern Kaduna Youth on Wednesday, 29th August, 2024 issued a press statement in view of what they described as “campaign of calumny” against our respected Distinguished Senator, Barr Sunday Marshall Katung by trying to smear his name and his hard earned reputation.
We have decided that we will not seat back and watch insignificant, bitter minded and political business men who have not contributed anything to the development of our their communities or region insult, malign and contemptuously keep misrepresenting facts just to get at our Senator for their selfish political interest.
The group further opined that, “Distinguished Senator Barr Sunday Marshall Katung in the last one year has performed far beyond our expectation. He has done what no any other senator has done within this short period in the history of Southern Kaduna Senatorial District. We are very much aware of his achievements. This is a man who has dedicated his time, energy and resources to improve on the lives of our people and the region as whole.
“Security has always been one of the major problems confronting us as a people but in the last one year, we have seen how our Senator has effectively collaborated with security agents operating in our region to stabilize the region. His regular meetings with the heads of security agencies in the zone and the advantage he took to collaborate with the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. C.G. Musa have helped significantly in reducing the number of banditry attacks the region experienced before now. His prompt response once there is a security challenge in the region is top-notch. He has supported the security agencies with logistics in the last one year. The Senator has equally supported our local vigilante with logistics to continue to watch over our communities
“In the area of health, his first litmus test was immediately when he was sworn in as a senator, a report came out that at least six people, mainly children, had died with 12 others hospitalized following the outbreak of diphtheria disease in Kafanchan. The senator swung into action by moving a motion in the hallowed chamber of the senate and by God’s grace, that challenge was nipped in the bud. He has been working tirelessly to ensure that the zone has access to quality and affordable healthcare services. He has gone further to introduce a bill for the establishment of Federal Medical Center in Kafanchan. His collaboration with both the federal and state governments has yielded immense results, with some health facilities in the region being upgraded. He has equally rendered free medical outreaches within the zone. Efforts are being made to upgrade more medical facilities in the region to operate at the best capacity a medical facility should operate.
“On education, the senator did not waste time proving to the region the importance he placed on education. His bill for the establishment of Science University, Manchok, received massive support in the Senate and has passed through the second reading. The Public Hearing on this bill was massive and the support the bill enjoys is commendable. A dream the Senator is pursuing with every energy to make it a reality for the benefit of our people. We have also seen how he has been offering scholarships to students across the 8 LGAs of the zone irrespective of tribe, religion or political learning. He has supported the development of the College of Education in Gidan Waya. This same senator facilitated the establishment of ICT centers in selected schools within the region, including Federal School of Statistics, Manchok, Technical College, Abet, GSS Kafanchan, GSS Damakasuwa, etc. His wife has equally rendered her support by paying for JAMB Exams for students across the region.
“On community development, the senator has always been there for the people. SMK facilitated the establishment of a 300-capacity Youth and Women Training Center in Kafanchan, being carried out by NITDA. We have seen how the senator was able to present the plight of ginger farmers in the region who suffered losses due to fungal disease that affected ginger farms across the region last year amounting to about N10 Billion loss. The Senator demanded that compensation be given to ginger farmers for their losses and by God’s grace, the Federal Ministry of Agric released about N1.8 billion to Kaduna State this year for that same purpose.
“In October 2023, the Senator, as the grassroots person that he is, selected over 200 rural farmers, mainly comprising women and youth within his Constituency; they were trained on Agribusiness and each one of them was given a N50,000 start-up grant by the Distinguished Senator. This has helped in alleviating the extreme poverty being experienced by families in our rural communities.
“In another empowerment program, the Senator secured ITF Training for a number of youths who were trained on various skills and have been given working tools, some grants and support to be self reliant.
“Not too long ago, the College of Education Gidan Waya was lighted up when the Senator installed Solar Lights in the School and some communities within the Senatorial Zone. There are many capital projects that the senator has been able to facilitate most of which are awaiting funding by the federal government and in no distant time, our people will see these projects come to fruition.
“Senator Katung in the last one year has facilitated and secured job placements for many youth across the zone irrespective of tribe, religion or political leaning. He is indeed a Senator for all.
“For the first time in many years, Southern Kaduna came alive once again during the last Christmas’ Celebration where we had, for the first time, the Southern Kaduna Festival (SKFest). The maiden edition of the Southern Kaduna Festival was possible because of the needed synergy and collaboration by our illustrious sons and daughters, which once again came into play. The Senator, as a critical stakeholder, played a major role, and the event was a huge success. For the first time in many years, we saw Southern Kaduna big boys who hitherto were not visible come together to celebrate our unity and also to chart a new course for the region.
“Just last two months ago, the Senator distributed over N5,000 bags of fertilizer to the people of Southern Kaduna in the first phase of this initiative. The recipients were mostly widows, orphans, the aged and people living with disability.
“Just recently, the Senator launched a very laudable program known as SMK – Social Welfare Intervention Program (SMK – SWIP) with a N100 million yearly grant aimed at uplifting families across the zone. Even though the first phase of the program was greeted with mix reactions especially on the list of those who have benefited from the first batch. It was made to understand that those who were saddled with the responsibility of coming up with the list did what they did for reasons best known to them but the Senator has since taken responsibility and has equally effected changes on the program to reflect the genuine intent of the program.
“The Senator’s passion, commitment and dedication to the peace, development of Southern Kaduna cannot be overemphasized. As such, we take exception to any mudslinging, tantrums and campaign of calumny against our revered Senator by any individual or group of individuals just to smear his hard earn reputation. We understand that some people who fell out of favor with the Distinguished Senator have sworn that they must drag him to the muds where they belong, but we want to take this opportunity to warn such individuals that if they do not desist in distracting our hardworking senator, the heat will be too much for them to handle in the days ahead. This is not a threat but a straight message that requires wisdom to understand. The ill motive behind the campaign of calumny against our Senator is already known. Those behind the promotion and execution of these campaigns are also known. They should also be aware that the vessel they are using to pass their messages of hate, bitterness and mischief will turn against them someday and not in a distant future. We want to warn here, that if those people do not leave our Senator alone to carry out his legislative assignment, we will not hesitate to travel the same dirty lane with them because we do not only see them as enemies of the Senator but enemies of the entire Southern Kaduna as a people. We are equally very much aware that even the mischievous vessel being used in this campaign of calumny is not an indegene of Southern Kaduna and must know that the youth of the region will not take it lightly from a stranger who came from a neighboring state to cause disunity among us.”
