SOKAMUDA, MYFOSKA call for reforms to address marginalization

By Abdullahi Abdurrahman, Kaduna The Southern Kaduna Muslim Ummah (SOKAMUDA) and the Muslim Youth Foundation of Southern Kaduna ...

By Abdullahi Abdurrahman, Kaduna

The Southern Kaduna Muslim Ummah (SOKAMUDA) and the Muslim Youth Foundation of Southern Kaduna (MYFOSKA) have raised strong concerns over the persistent marginalization of Muslim communities in Southern Kaduna.

During a presentation at the North-West Zonal Public Hearing of the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendment held in Kaduna, the two groups highlighted several structural and historical issues affecting their communities.

A major concern raised was the exclusion of Muslim communities from discussions and agitations surrounding the proposed Gurara State. The groups strongly objected to this exclusion, arguing that Muslims constitute over 40% of the population in Southern Kaduna and must therefore be included in all relevant deliberations. They emphasized that meaningful engagement with all stakeholder communities is a constitutional requirement.

SOKAMUDA and MYFOSKA also condemned the settler/indigene dichotomy, which they described as a tool of systemic marginalization. According to them, Muslims in Southern Kaduna are not strangers or settlers but co-founders and integral stakeholders. They cited historical evidence, such as the existence of the Jama’a Emirate since 1808 and the Zangon Kataf (now Zango Urban) community, which has existed for over 500 years.

The groups further raised alarm over land ownership challenges and denial of rights to shelter and farming. They stated that many Muslim communities in Southern Kaduna face systemic exclusion from access to land for residential, agricultural, or religious purposes.

Calling for constitutional reforms, SOKAMUDA and MYFOSKA urged the National Assembly to consider their concerns and act in the spirit of equity, justice, and inclusiveness. They stressed the need for reforms that recognize and protect the cultural and historical identity of Muslim communities in the region.

Among their key recommendations were:

Revisiting the Gurara State proposal to ensure the inclusion and representation of Muslim communities.

Abolishing the settler/indigene dichotomy and instead adopting citizenship and residency as the basis for all civic rights.

Amending the Land Use Act to guarantee equitable access to land for all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Official recognition of the cultural heritage and historical contributions of Muslim communities in Southern Kaduna.

The groups concluded by urging the National Assembly to approach the constitutional review process with fairness and a commitment to national unity, stressing that no community should be left behind in the evolving democratic structure of the country.