A professor at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, James Kantiok, has accused politicians from southern Kaduna State of compromising the core interests of their people, making the future bleak for coming generations.

Mr. Kantiok, who is the director, Center for Peace, Conflict and Security Studies, added, “The situation is dangerous and must be put to a stop in view of its consequences.”

The university lecturer was presenting a paper on Mentorship and Socio-economic and Political Development in Southern Kaduna, at an event organised by the students’ wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, SOKAPU, on Monday in Kafanchan, Kaduna State.

“You must refuse politics of money and betrayal of collective interest. You must stand your ground and not be deceived with Keke-NAPEP, cars and all those inducements. Southern Kaduna people are known as a people of God, putting God first and not what the world is watching of the shame today,” Mr. Kantiok told the students.
He noted that the area was “backward” due to a lack of mentors.

“In Southern Kaduna, we lack mentors mainly because we are too selfish and individualistic. We lack a sense of commitment, for most times, we are parochial, myopic and primordial thinking that we should only mentor our children. Take a look at so many big men and women, how many people have they mentored? I am telling you the ballot box is the answer,” he stated.

The national president of SOKAPU, Ephraim Goje, in his remarks, said, “We have said our own; don’t blame anyone from some parts of the state. Our destiny is in our hands. I hope we have all seen what we are doing to ourselves. The answer is simple; we must ensure that only the best of us is seen in the polity.”