The Adara Development Association, ADA, has observed with dismay that Governor Nasir El-Rufai has used the demise of the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris to publicly showcase the status differential between Northern and Southern Kaduna people in his administration.
The National President of Adara Development Association, ADA, Mr Awemi Dio Maisamari, in a statement issued and made available to DAILY POST on Saturday, he said, “As a mark of well-deserved honour to the late 1st Class Emir, who died naturally, three days mourning period and a public holiday were declared by the Governor. Also, in a matter of a few days, arrangements are in top gear to peacefully appoint a successor to the throne based on established Zazzau customs and traditions.
“On the other hand, the 1st Class monarch of Adara Chiefdom was abducted like a commoner and eventually assassinated in very humiliating and suspicious circumstances. And yet the Governor did not consider his tragic demise deserving of any extraordinary action, special honour, press statements, tributes or even ceremonial calls for public mourning by the state government.
“This was again followed by the greatest mark of dishonour and treachery to our monarch and Adara people as a whole. Our people were shocked to learn that Adara Chiefdom and Adara Traditional Council had been secretly scrapped by the Governor five months earlier.”
The statement added, “The unacceptable scrapping of Adara Chiefdom and the creation of Kajuru Emirate on Adara land were made known a few days after the murder of our Royal Father. Furthermore, even the investigation and prosecution of the masterminds and executors of the crime are not being given the publicity, importance and urgency they deserve.”
The Adara people said these are displays of sharply contrasting policies, actions, attitudes and body language by the Governor on the death of two 1st Class monarchs.
“This shows his total and unapologetic disrespect and disdain for the traditional rulers and people of Southern Kaduna. Therefore, the Emir’s death has finally unmasked Governor E-Rufai’s apartheid and segregationist system in Kaduna State beyond any reasonable doubt,” the statement added.
The Adara people said Governor El-Rufai has balkanized the largest Christian majority of Adara Chiefdom whose size covers only two local governments, but has left Zazzau Emirate intact with ten local governments.
The statement explained that the governor sympathizes and apologizes for Fulani terrorist attacks in Northern Kaduna but blames Southern Kaduna communities for the endless atrocities on their people by his kinsmen, adding that he has ignored the humanitarian crisis affecting tens of thousands of Fulani terrorist attack victims and internally displaced persons in Southern Kaduna.
The Adara people appealed to the governor to rethink his principles and policies in the interest of sustainable social harmony, genuine peace and equitable development of the state.
“This is necessary in the overall interest of our helpless Adara community, other Southern Kaduna victims and even his privileged and favoured people who are also agonizing from the insensitivity of his administration,” the statement explained.
