The youths and students of Southern Kaduna have kicked against indefinite closure of State-owned higher institutions in their area, even as they unanimously passed Vote of No Confidence on Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
In a statement issued on Monday under the aegis of Southern Kaduna Youth and Students Forum (SKYSFOM) and signed by its President, Galadima Jesse, the group insisted there is no justifiable reason for the closure of schools in the area.
The students wondered why their schools would remain closed indefinitely when University of Maiduguri that is being attacked by Boko Haram terrorists remain open.
Mr. Jesse states further, “The general public may recall that our quest for the reopening of our schools came to the public domain since 12/06/2017, 27/06/2017 and 03/07/2017 during which at different times the press was addressed.
“That of 12/06/2017 was even most notable as armed security operative of the government in kaduna state mounted an unwarranted siege on the premises of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna office where we wanted to address the press.
“Notwithstanding, we have issued several calls to the government to open our schools against what every observer of our plight have agreed that their closure is mischievous and a deliberate intention to cripple our education, economy and to present Southern Kaduna people violence prone, against our hospitable heritage and culture.
“The public may still recall that the Nigerian Senate on 06/07/2017 had commended continued opening of University of Maiduguri despite the violent intimidation of Boko Haram, the Nigeria Senate went on to ask for more security beef up of the university, not its closure. Academic activities in the University is still ongoing.
“We therefore find it imperative to ask: Why must our institutions in Southern Kaduna be different? Why is kaduna state government making things so complex as if Southern Kaduna is still in crisis? Is the Kaduna state government still of desperately bent on using state power to express its hate over Southern Kaduna by punishing us?
“Having found no rational reason to the indefinite closure of our schools, we resorted to the VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE exercise against Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
“On this note, if by or before 19/07/2017 the Government fails to open our schools the government should expect to hear from us again on a different legitimate action.
“In the meantime, we call on all our members to remain law abiding and never to get frustrated by the actions of this vindictive government as we are on this and will never rest until the return us back to our classrooms, the statement reads in part.
