* Setting the Record Straight on Recent Political Realignments
By Bomba Dauda
The recent piece titled “Two Desperate Politicians: A Senator, A House of Representatives Member and the Cowardice of Convenience” authored by Engr. James Bature, is one of those passionate but misdirected essays that reflect more anger than understanding, more assumptions than facts. While we acknowledge his right to free expression, it is important that false impressions are not allowed to fester in the public domain unchallenged.
In his desperation to drag the good name of the Senator into disrepute, the writer claimed that:
“The witty-by-half and moral cosplaying senator says he was forced to decamp, claiming that powerful forces in the APC left him no choice. According to him, they allegedly suggested that if he refused to cross over, matters of legal scrutiny he faces could stop being a private affair and suddenly become a national topic.”
However, it is important to note that the writer neither stated where nor when the Senator purportedly made such a statement. His allegation is therefore random, unsubstantiated, and completely unhinged, a figment of imagination designed to mislead the public and malign the reputation of a man whose political career has been built on integrity, service, and accountability.
The era of rigid partisanship, where political loyalty is mistaken for patriotism, is fast giving way to pragmatic engagement—an approach guided by inclusion, partnership, and opportunity for our people. To dismiss this evolution as “cowardice” or “fear” is to deliberately misunderstand the realities of modern governance and intergovernmental relations.
No political party holds a monopoly over conscience or capacity. The decision of our distinguished representatives to join the ruling party (APC) is neither impulsive nor selfish; it is a strategic recalibration—a deliberate move designed to position Southern Kaduna within the sphere of national decision-making. For decades, our region has suffered political isolation simply because our leaders were confined to the opposition bench. If truly we desire development, road networks, job creation, and federal presence, then political collaboration is not cowardice; it is common sense in action.
It is easy for those outside the arena to throw stones at men who take bold steps. But leadership demands courage, the kind that dares to make unpopular moves today to secure tomorrow’s benefits. To label such decisions as “fear” or “self-preservation” is an insult to the intelligence of Southern Kaduna people, who can clearly distinguish between a compromised retreat and a strategic repositioning. Our representatives have chosen to work with the center, not against it. That, in political terms, is maturity, not timidity.
Engr. Bature’s essay also tried to define Southern Kaduna solely by resistance. While our forebears indeed stood firm in the face of persecution and injustice, they also believed in wisdom, dialogue, and diplomacy. Resistance without results becomes noise; engagement with power produces progress. The roads, schools, hospitals, and security our people desire will not come from shouting in isolation but from strategic alignment with those who hold the levers of power.
It is unfair, uncharitable, and utterly irresponsible to accuse respected public servants of fleeing from “legal scrutiny” or “credential questions” without presenting a single shred of evidence. Such insinuations are not fact-based; they are nothing short of character assassination. Our leaders have faced the test of elections, public service, and performance without blemish. The attempt to reduce their political decision to personal fear is a reflection of the writer’s bias, not of the facts.
We must stop weaponizing defection as betrayal. The strength of our region lies in diversity of thought, not uniformity of party lines. Today, some of our brightest sons and daughters are in the APC, PDP, and LP. That doesn’t make anyone less Southern Kaduna. What matters is commitment to our people’s progress. Instead of attacking our own, we should be asking how best to maximize this new access to national resources and political goodwill.
In the final paragraph of his write-up, the author completely botched his argument and revealed his deep-seated bias. He made no effort to conceal his sentiment, writing in a manner clearly intended to massage the parochial interests of his Atyap extraction. His reasoning, tone, and choice of words were narrowly tailored to promote an Atyap oligarchic agenda, rather than the broader and collective interest of the Southern Kaduna people.
This bias became most evident when he concluded with the line: “Please pass the baton to a true Southern Kaduna son or daughter that understands the language of Laklat.” It is common knowledge that Laklat is an Atyap slogan, and by invoking it, the author effectively stripped his argument of objectivity and rational thought, reducing what could have been a serious discourse to an ethnic cheerleading exercise. This kind of rhetoric is archaic, dangerous, and injurious to our collective interest and shared destiny as one people under God.
The best politicians are those able to identify, situate, and pursue the Southern Kaduna strategic interest within the larger context of the Nigerian polity. Distinguished leaders like Senator Isaiah Balat, whose brief tenure as minister led to the construction of the Kaduna–Kafanchan–Forrest and Saminaka–Samaru Kataf roads, and H.E. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, are shining examples. It is within this mold that one can objectively situate Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, a man whose commitment to public service, accessibility, and effective representation continues to inspire hope across Southern Kaduna.
The pertinent issue is not whether the Senator secures a second term or not, but that he will occupy a front-row seat of honor when the stewardship of our successive Senators is appraised.
One pertinent question that agitates the mind of every objective observer is this: what makes the recent defections “desperate” while all previous defections were seen as normal?
I therefore call on every voice of reason to support and strengthen the hands of the Distinguished Senator and his allies, as they continue to deploy their networks and national reach to bring about unprecedented development to our people.
