Since the creation of Katsina state in 1987 from the old Kaduna state, the Funtua Senatorial Zone has suffered perpetual neglect by both the state and the Federal Government in terms of locating development projects in the zone which prides itself as the food basket of the state, commercial nerve centre and industrial hub. What with Funtua textile limited, Funtua oil crushing company, Funtua ginnery, Northern diaries limited, Funtua bottling company, Jargaba oil mill company, Integrated flour Mills, Funtua Burnt Brickworks limited, limited, Funtua Cotton Seed Crushing Company, Fertilizer Blending Plant to mention but just a few.
Pundits observed that the continued marginalization of the zone in terms of educational development, infrastructure and the provision of other vital social services has arrested development in the zone which on its own deserves a state of its own given its comparative advantage in terms of population density, material and human resource endowment.
Critics and informed public affairs commentators are quick to point out that most of the development projects were skewed in favour of Katsina Central. For instance, they allege that most higher institutions of learning in the state like the Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, the Islamic University and the School of Nursing and Midwifery are located in Katsina metropolis in close proximity to the Federal College of Education Katsina and the Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic just as the newly established Federal University and the Isa Kaita College of Education are both located in Dutsin-Ma, and the College of Legal Studies in Daura thus leaving Funtua Zone without any tertiary Institution. Even the recently commissioned Solar Powered Project which would have powered the industries in Funtua Zone is sited in Rimi Local Government near Katsina metropolis.
Even in terms of political appointments at both state and federal levels, the zone is seriously marginalized including the positions of ministers, ambassadors, security chiefs, and chief executives of parastatals. Since the return of democratic dispensation in 1999, all ministers appointed from the state were from Katsina and Daura zones. Nearly all political appointees from chief executives and board members, heads of security organizations and ambassadors all came from the most favoured zones. And to add salt to injury, the zone is unlucky to have poor representation at both the state and federal legislatures as most of the members of states house of assembly, and senator and members House of Representatives are only interested in collecting jumbo salaries and allowances which do not trickle down to their constituencies. When their counterparts in other states are concerned with bringing more constituency projects to their people, our legislators hardly frequent their constituencies to know what their problems are. It is disheartening to note that the only federal presence in the zone is the Funtua maximum security prison.
It is noteworthy that the application of federal character principle in the distribution of projects besides ensuring equity, fairness and justice is informed by the need to ensure even development of the country which will give every component part of the country a sense of belonging.
In view of the electoral value of the zone which being the most populous one in the state contributed the highest number of votes to both governor Masari and President Muhammadu Buhari in the last general election in 2015, the zone deserves a better deal in this political dispensation. Recent media reports indicate that the federal government is desirous of establishing special science research centres and universities of technology in the six geopolitical ones. The universities and science centres are meant to serve as hub of scientific research and innovation in the country. The zone deserves to be considered in this regard as it is eminently qualified to host these institutions as it already has the enabling environment and required facilities for their take-off. For instance, the presence of the state vocational training centres in Funtua and Malumfashi recently rehabilitated by the Masari administration can serve as temporary sites for the two institutions. This is the only thing that will satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of people of the Zone who have longed for democracy dividends.
Kabir Dangusau Funtua, Katsina State
