The people of Ham community in Jaba Local Government Area in the Kaduna South Senatorial District of Kaduna State have decried the persistent imposition of chairpersons during the past eight years of former Governor Nasiru El-Rufais administration.
The people expressed their concerns in a statement issued by the Ham Elders Forum in relation to the October 19, 2024 local government elections in the state.
A joint statement issued on Wednesday by Martins Boris Chiroma, Mamman D. Sarki, Istifanus Zom, Iliya Bako Byeing, and Peter N. Buba, explained, We are living in a time when every issue that affects our existence and sensitivity as a people needs to be voiced out for the desired action to be taken. As peace-loving people that we are known for, over the past 8 years, the system in Kaduna State has shown us that there is no reward for being objectively organized.
Since the establishment of Jaba LGA, we have been craving development. However, such lofty ambition will hardly come to fruition when we are not allowed to scrutinize, assess, and even choose our leaders based on their track records and capabilities. If development is central to governance, we should be allowed to choose the candidate we believe will drive our developmental objectives.
They reiterated that for the past eight years under the El-Rufai administration, Jaba LGA never had an elected LG Chairperson for reasons best known to him and not in their best interest. Instead, they were often given an appointed Chairperson which they regarded as his alternative. Whether such a decision suited or appeased their sentiments or not, they had to accommodate it and learn to live with it.
