I am convinced that for the people of Southern Kaduna, it is a new dawn. Despite deliberate policies of exclusion, they have broken their nails to climb out of the dark tunnel of exclusion constructed by the invidious members of the Kaduna mafia.

Change began to come only during the administration of Obasanjo. I believe there is a future to hope for and we must not surrender to despair.

If anyone thinks that terror, intimidation and blackmail are substitutes for justice, they should do well to read history and read it properly.

For now, Southern Kaduna is a theatre for the politics of both today and the future of Nigeria.

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese