During President Buhari’s eight years, Southern Kaduna was completely sidelined —Chairman, Forum of Southern Kaduna Professors, Laah

The chairman of the Forum of Southern Kaduna Professors (FSKP), Professor John Laah, speaks with Northern Bureau Chief, MUHAMMAD SABIU, on the forum’s recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani for re-election.

Can you tell us how the Forum of Southern Kaduna Professors came into being?

It all started when we suddenly realised that the number of professors from Southern Kaduna was growing significantly. In the 1980s, there were only a few, people like Professor Yayock and Professor Aku. But over time, the number increased remarkably. We began to find Southern Kaduna professors across various faculties in different institutions.

We saw the need to harness this growth for impact. As professors, beyond teaching and research, we also have a responsibility to offer community service. When we took stock, we found that we were over 100 in number. That prompted us to come together to form a forum not only to make an impact but also to gain credibility when we speak on issues that concern our people.

Since our training is rooted in research, statistics and academic rigour, people began to take our contributions seriously. That’s how the forum began. It is a collective of scholars making informed, data-backed interventions in community matters.

What impact has the forum made in Southern Kaduna since its inception?

Let me begin with the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia. We are proud to say that the forum played a significant role in its establishment. We didn’t just support the idea, we mobilised, provided the necessary data, wrote memos, visited the National Assembly and made the case for why the university was needed in that area.

Though the university is a federal institution meant for all Nigerians, the locational advantage it offers Southern Kaduna was important to us. We realized that our region lacked any federal university, whereas other states had two or three. Also, education is virtually the only industry we have in Southern Kaduna. So, we believed that providing access to higher education would help tackle youth unemployment and other socio-economic problems.

We worked closely with Senator Sunday Marshall, who sponsored the bill. We supported him with data and documentation. In fact, we even said that if no one else would run the university, we, the professors from Southern Kaduna, were ready to do it ourselves because we have the expertise in nearly every academic field.

Beyond that, the forum is actively involved in peacebuilding. We go around communities advocating for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders. Our aim is to foster a cohesive and harmonious society where we can harness the region’s abundant resources.

The press conference we recently held was our first, and we were encouraged by how well it was received. Many of our members are also leaders in their community development associations, a sign that people trust our expertise and integrity.

How have you sustained membership in the forum? Is it dominated by one tribe or religion?

The forum has been active since 2014, though it started as an ad hoc arrangement. But recently, during the burial of Professor Mamman (former DG, Energy Commission), we decided to formalise it due to our growing numbers. Today, we have 196 professors from Southern Kaduna, and more are still being identified. Some are even based abroad.

Interestingly, one professor I recently spoke with said he had chosen to stay out of the limelight, but was pleased to see our activities in the media. He was especially encouraged that we now publicly commend the government when they deserve it.

Your press conference made headlines for endorsing President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani. Could you elaborate on this?

We believe it’s only fair to acknowledge good deeds. If you look at the history of governance from the Obasanjo era to date, you’ll notice that Southern Kaduna tends to be recognised only when a Southerner is president.

Under Obasanjo, we had key appointments: Minister of Finance, Minister of Works and even a Chief of Army Staff. Under President Yar’Adua, though his time was short, he appointed a Chief of Naval Staff from our region, a notable gesture from a Northern president. When Jonathan became president, we had a GMD of NNPC and several other appointments.

But during President Buhari’s eight years, Southern Kaduna was completely sidelined. Not a single key appointment came our way. That’s why we felt compelled to appreciate the Tinubu administration. In less than two years, we now have a Federal Medical Centre, a federal university in Kachia and Governor Uba Sani has established a vocational institute in Southern Kaduna, one of only two in the state.

These vocational centres are designed to train about 800 youths yearly and also provide them with starter packs. That’s a real solution to unemployment.

We now also have three operational military commands in the area, a UBEC model school, a newly approved National Open University study centre, and a command secondary school. Six of these are federal institutions, all within two years of President Tinubu’s administration. That’s unprecedented.

As Africans, we’re taught to appreciate good deeds not just for what has been done, but also in anticipation of future goodwill. That’s why we spoke up. We believe in flexibility and fairness. We commend when it’s due and critique when necessary.

And what about Governor Uba Sani? Has he extended the same kind of attention to Southern Kaduna?

Absolutely. We have endorsed his actions and pronouncements so far. One of the first projects he launched as governor was in Southern Kaduna, a 17km road in Kaura Local Government Area. He also launched another in Zangon Kataf, where he accepted a traditional title, ‘Lover of Atyap’, and wore the traditional regalia. These gestures are deeply symbolic.

Moreover, over 2,000 solar lights have been installed across Southern Kaduna communities in just two years of his administration. You can quote me on that.

It’s important to recall that before the federal university in Kachia, there was an earlier bill for a federal university in Manchok that was passed by the Senate in 2022. Unfortunately, it was never assented to by President Buhari, reportedly due to opposition from then-Governor El-Rufai.

Governor El-Rufai was openly against the project. But when we met with Uba Sani, first as a senator, he supported us. He even withdrew his own proposal for a university in Zone Two so that he could back ours. That speaks volumes about his commitment.

When the university was eventually approved, Governor Uba Sani immediately provided a vast parcel of land, over 170 hectares, and signed the Certificate of Occupancy. That’s a major statement of support.

Frankly, Uba Sani has shown that he wants to carry everyone along. His actions go beyond rhetoric, they are measurable and meaningful. He has gone further than his predecessor and for that, we must acknowledge and commend him.

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