By YM Bina

The Suleja Development Association (SUDA) has made a passionate appeal to the Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to urgently reversed the decision of the state government to commercialize conversion of the former FCDA Suleja Field Base.

The Galadiman Zazau Suleja Alhaji Mohammed Rabiu Ishak made this known during a peaceful protest in Suleja, Niger state, expressed concern over the reported plan to reallocate the FCDA field base land for the construction of market by the Nigerian Army Property Ltd valued at around N121 billion.

The facility is currently serving as a campus of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai.

SUDA than issued two weeks ultimatum to the state government to reverse the decision or resort to legal action, adding that it has exhausted all possible efforts and avenues to peaceful engagement,

but governor Mohammed Umar Bago has portrayed not amenable to dialogue despite documentary evidences to bear out their collective interest.

The SUDA President Rabiu Ishak whose speech was read by Prof. Suleiman Abdul of ATBU Bauchi, urged the state government to regard their agitation, calling for responsive governance, consultation and fairness motivated by determination to protect the historical, social and developmental interest of the people of Suleja.

He challenged the government on due process in taking decisions especially concerning important property, while exploring that the property was handed over to Suleja during governor Mua’azu Babangida Aliyu as agreed in 1977 with the federal government, hence the establishment of IBBU Lapai campus which is the only tertiary institution in Suleja Emirate.

According to him, their position on the matter includes: request that the Niger state government should recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the Suleja community during the establishment of the former FCDA field base and treat them with dignity.

That Governor Bago should intimately respect the educational purpose associated with the property to maintain and strengthen IBBU Lapai, to ensure legitimate interests of the people of Suleja are heard  and fairly considered, that the matter can be resolved peacefully in a manner that protect the interest of the people, and assured to remain committed to peace, dialogue and the development of Niger state provided it’s in respect of the rights, dignity, heritage and legitimate interests of the people.

In his remarks, Alhaji Umar Shuaibu who is the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of SUDA, emphasized that they wants education not market, adding that Suleja has three markets that has not been occupied fully and the Emirate has no tertiary institution.

He revealed that the stands of the association is clear and no going back because Madalla market vacated is still there untouched, construction of Suleja township roads abandoned with some of the ongoing works are substandard.

Thousands of protesters who participated in the peaceful protest insisted that they needed educational institution to ensure opportunity for their children and future generations rather than markets.

However, the protesters were carrying placards with various descriptions like: “Suleja people says yes to IBB University campus at the former FCDA field base and a big no to market “, “We have many unoccupied market places in Suleja but no single tertiary institution in Suleja local government.”  “Nigerian Army are symbol of patriotism not a weapon to be used for the violation of overriding public interest of educational needs of Suleja people”.