Bomba Dauda
In a press statement issued to press by Elders, Senior Citizens and Development-minded People of Jabaland, signed by Chief Peter N. Buba, Mr. Mamman D. Sarki, Mr. Martins D. Chiroma, Mr.Istifanus Zom and Chief Iliya B. Bako the group shed light on the mission and vision of Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“We, as representatives of the elders, senior citizens, and development-minded individuals in the Jaba Local Government community, have come together to reflect on several issues that have prompted us to advocate for progress within our community,” they said.
They went further saying, Since the establishment of the Jaba Local Government in 1991, there was great hope that it would become one of the best local governments in Nigeria. We believed that by adopting best practices from other regions, we would elect leaders committed to driving development in our area.
Unfortunately, due to internal and local challenges, achieving this vision has been difficult. Over the past 33 years, political disputes and struggles have stunted development, leading to more crises than progress, particularly in the last decade. For example, the absence of democratically elected councils has hindered any meaningful development, leaving only political turmoil in its wake.
However, we want to thank the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the party’s establishment in Kaduna State for yielding to the aspirations of the good people of Jaba LGA by conducting a befitting Congresses(ward and LGA). We hope, this people-oriented thinking will guide the party’s thoughts and tendency up to the coming LG election in our domain.
When people are part of the processes that a candidate emerges and even wins election, the people will be happy because their preferred candidate is in power and the same people will buy-in. Such government will enjoy legitimacy and massive support from the people. The just concluded LGA congresses in our local government is a classical example of how carrying people along can guarantee peaceful coexistence. After the rescheduled congresses in Jaba, the people are happy.
Prior to this, we noticed with dismay the vexation that characterized the politics in Jaba LGA where some politicians disallowed a smooth and credible congress from occurring and the polity was heated up. Complains, petitions and tensions were order of the day. The politicians that their actions and inactions caused us pains cannot call themselves political leaders because they are fighting against a process that they used to access positions of authority. This does not represent what we are known for. This behaviour does not portend who we truly are, and it should be discouraged.
I must commend the people of Jaba LGA for their resilience and standing up for the truth and also insisting on the right thing to be done for equity, fairness and justice to prevail. The congresses has come and gone and Jaba LGA is peaceful because people had their way. Denial against justice is a requisite for discontentment, agitation and even violence. Because people had chosen the party officials that they wanted, everywhere is calm now.
However, we wish to express our gratitude to the current state government, which has demonstrated a commitment to the rule of law, justice, and fairness. The Governor has given us hope that the Jaba Local Government can finally thrive under this administration.
Additionally, we commend the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, which offers renewed hope for democracy in our local government. With the autonomy granted to us, we now have the opportunity to use it wisely and drive development.
That said, the current political climate in Jaba Local Government is concerning. As one politician has warned, if the situation continues, it could lead to further crisis and violence. We, the elders, senior citizens, and those passionate about the growth of the local government, recognize these early warning signs. It is imperative that we act now to prevent impending chaos, especially as we approach the upcoming local government elections.
In response to these concerns, we make the following recommendations to ensure a just, fair, and peaceful election that will foster development:
1. Empower the Electorate: We advocate for the freedom of the electorates to be true stakeholders in the election process. They should have the right to vote for candidates who will bring development and reject those who will not. The people are the real stakeholders in this process.
2. Oppose External Interference: We stand against individuals from outside the community or the diaspora who believe they are stakeholders simply because they can influence the selection of candidates from afar. The people of the local government should choose their leaders without external interference.
3. Ensure a Level Playing Field: We advocate for free, fair, and democratically accepted elections at both the ward and local government levels. The people should have the power to elect leaders who will serve their interests and bring development, and they should also have the power to remove those who fail to deliver on their promises.
4. Call for a Town Hall Meeting: We propose a town hall meeting, which has proven effective in the past. We call on all Development Associations in Jaba LGA in conjunction with Ham Development Association (HAMDA) to facilitate this forum where all political aspirants at the local government and ward levels can present their platforms and convince the community why they deserve their votes. The community should also have the power to hold these leaders accountable if they fail to fulfil their promises.
