For over a decade, Southern Kaduna region had been battling with lingering challenges of insecurity which had resulted in killings , displacement and the destruction of properties worth billions of naira.
In the same vein, the identified challenges that have mutated and transformed into different types of crimes ranging from banditry to insurgency and kidnapping among others, have been misconstrued by many to mean clashes between farmers and herders.
As part of effort to put the narrative straight, and tell the untold stories of the region, media professionals from Southern Kaduna region had formed a forum to enable them tell their own stories and hold government as well as including political office holders from the region accountable.
In view of this, a media parley was held between members of Southern Kaduna Journalists Forum and Senator Sunday Marshall Katung representing the zone to brainstorm on his scorecard.
Senator Katung who tasked the journalist to embrace corporate and issues based journalism expressed commitment to execute projects for the betterment of the region.
“I’m saying that, as much as you owe a duty to your media organizations, your primary responsibility at the end of the day is where you came from, because first of all, we must know where we coming from, and if the land is destroyed because of our reportage, then we all sing together,
“As Southern Kaduna Journalists, what is your kind of reportage, how has your reportage help grow your community and southern Kaduna as a whole, we must be deliberate about this to ensure that at the end of the day, people are happy”, said the law maker.
He said topmost among his priorities before now had been to synergize effort with the President and the Governor of the State regardless of party affiliation to ensure that the dividends of democracy is delivered to his people.
The law maker identified basic issues in the region that needed attention to include agriculture and education, saying both are pivotal sectors that could drive growth and development in the region when given adequate consideration.
“During the electioneering, there are two things that stood out for me that i still hold very dearly, first thing I said was that, in this contest, if I’m going in to benefit myself or my family in anyway, may God not give me the seat,
“I also said, if I emerged as senator, whoever becomes the governor of the state or president, I’ll work the light to ensure that my people gets dividends of democracy because we all live here and we pay taxes here, so there’s no reason why any other part of the country will benefit from this common wealth called Nigeria, and Kaduna South Senatorial District will not partake from it,
“What are the basic issues that border the typical Southern Kaduna person, the first agriculture and education, and from time they’ve always been, so what do we do, we try as much as possible to fill the gap within the limited opportunities that are available,”explained the Senator.
Senator Katung lamented that not so much achievements have been recorded in the region over time, attributing that to lack of unity, and the inability of the elites to tell their people the truth, noting that they always manipulate them to suit their own narrative.
He however pointed out that, when an issue is given the wrong narrative then the problem is far from being solved, citing the security issues in the middle belt and Southern Kaduna as case studies, saying the narrative was wrong, and that there is nothing like farmers-herders conflict, but pure criminality and banditry.
“Reason being that, a family is sleeping in their house, bandits or criminals will broke in and kill or maim them, even carry people away, and you’ll come and tell me ohh it’s Farmer, herders conflicts,
“For instance, the person you are killing might not have even gone to the farm in the last two years, then you come and kill them, and said it’s farmer’s, herders conflicts,
“That’s why the government gave it a wrong narrative in the last ten years and that’s why the situation has not been curtailed, Mr. Katung lamented.
He said collaboration and commitment are ongoing to ensure that the region of southern Kaduna is immune from the challenges of insecurity.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of Southern Kaduna Journalist Forum, Mr. Ango Bally who commended Senator Katungs doggedness , appreciated him for the opportunity given them to brainstorm on his scorecard in less than two years.
While applauding his legislative effort that birthed the Federal University of Applied Sciences in the region, he appealed that such historic event be sustained, and made a periodic event to enable them deliver on their corporate social responsibility to ensure that right narrative are shared, and stories told to the world about the region.
Daniel Karlmax
