SOKAPU to join hands with middle belt, South for restructuring

The people of Southern Kaduna, under the umbrella of Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), yesterday, renewed their commitment to work with other parts of the country to restructure the nation for progressive growth and development.

The new leadership of SOKAPU, who took oath of office in Kaduna, lamented that retrogressive tendencies have retarded the country’s growth and pledged to join hands with the Middle Belt and southern parts to move Nigeria forward.

The new President of SOKAPU, Jonathan Asake, said during the handing over ceremony: “Our leadership will encourage unity and cohesion among the diverse groups of Southern Kaduna and similar groups in other parts of the state, as well as the nation, who share similar ideals and aspirations with us.

“We will reach out to other socio-cultural groups such as the Middle Belt Forum, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, with whom we share common ideals and aspirations…

“Other areas we share common understanding include power-sharing and power rotation; states creation; land tenure and land ownership; devolution of power, self-determination; institutionalised discrimination, uncontrolled immigration, chieftaincy, and traditional institutions matters …”

Asake condemned the security challenges that have had a negative impact on Nigerians under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, saying: “It’s obvious the challenge of insecurity in our communities has become the greatest threat to our common survival.

“Many communities are currently under siege resulting from the incessant invasions, occupation, kidnapping, destruction of farmlands, extortion, rape, banditry and other heinous acts meted on our people. Our leadership will partner with relevant security agencies and the government to ensure that our communities are safe and secured.”

“SOKAPU is a socio-cultural organisation and a pressure group. We are not a government, government department or agency. Ours is to support and encourage our elected representatives at all levels in discharging their responsibilities to our people.

“We will also constructively engage government at all tiers on policies and programmes that have to do with the wellbeing of our people…”