Uba Sani claims reduced killings in Southern Kaduna due to Non-sectarian leadership
Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has claimed that the relative peace and stability, including a reported decrease in killings, in Southern Kaduna under his administration are primarily due to his leadership approach, which he describes as fair and inclusive, devoid of religious or ethnic bias.
He stated that “carrying everyone along” in leadership, regardless of their differences, has helped promote relative peace in the region.
Governor Sani emphasized that upon taking office on May 29, 2023, he made it clear that he would govern the state with fairness and would not rule based on religious, political, or ethnic affiliations, asserting that he was elected to be fair to everyone.
He said he views governance as being about taking development to every part of Kaduna State.
He said another key aspect of his approach is addressing the infrastructural deficit in Southern Kaduna and other parts of the state.
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He noted that historically, Kaduna Central received the most attention, but his government has directed development towards underserved areas like Southern Kaduna, focusing on local governments with infrastructure issues without politics or religion influencing the decisions. He believes that bridging the economic gap among communities helps reduce tension and provides a sense of belonging.
Governor Sani also highlighted active engagement with traditional rulers and religious leaders to ensure widespread communication and unity, attending activities in both mosques and churches.
According to him, his administration has also focused on education, addressing the issue of out-of-school children and expanding scholarship schemes to include students from conflict-affected and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, regardless of ethnicity or religion. Peace Education modules have also been introduced into select secondary school curricula.
Furthermore, he said the administration has prioritized the construction of feeder roads, particularly in agrarian communities, and commissioned water supply projects in Southern Kaduna, addressing long-standing complaints of neglect in basic infrastructure.
While acknowledging ongoing national security challenges, Governor Sani’s administration claimed to have recalibrated the state’s response by decentralizing security planning and introducing a revamped Community Policing Framework that includes local vigilantes, community watch groups, and traditional institutions as stakeholders. Youth-targeted employment and training programs that cut across religious and ethnic divides have also been rolled out to address economic exclusion.
Governor Sani’s approach is presented as a departure from that of his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, who was described as openly admitting to paying bandits and pushing for the political exclusion of Southern Kaduna.
