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Message to President Buhari and Governor
Lalong from Kompany Zurak Community
By Dickson Gupiya
November 29, 2018
A
passionate appeal has been made to President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor
Simon Bako Lalong by the Kampany Zurak Communuity in Wase Local Government area
of Plateau to consider it a matter of urgent to re-open the mining site in the
area managed by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited owned by Abdullahi Adamu popularly
known as Dan China.
In
an Exclusive chat with African Drum
last week, the community noted that the appeal has become imperative taking
into cognizance the tremendous impact Solid Unit through its mining activity
has made in the lives of members of the community
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| Haruna Abubakar |
All
those who spoke to our man described the decision of the Federal Government to
withdraw from court its charges earlier leveled against Dan China as a welcome
and positive development but added that government needed to go a step further
and order the re-opening of the site which has been the source of livelihood to
almost all members of the community.
According
to Haruna Abubakar, “we are happy with the decision of the Federal government
to withdraw its case against Abdullahi Adamu. I almost gave up thinking that
the APC government is also toeing the line of the PDP in the area of impunity.
I
must tell you that I contemplated leaving the APC because we were all
discouraged when we saw how Abdullahi Adamu was humiliated. But now that
Government has rescinded its decision, we are happy. The next thing that needs
to be done is to allow for the re-opening of the site.”
Also
speaking, Haruna Nuhu, secretary Kompany Host Community Union said, “Dan China
is our government. If you look around, there is no government presence in this
community. I doubt if government even knows that we exists. They only time they
remember us is during tax collection and other levies but when it comes to issue
of development, we have never been remembered. This community was a jungle
until the arrival of Dan China. Every bit of development you see in this
community is through him. The mining activity by his company has empowered
almost every member of this community”.
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| Bala Waziri |
According
to Nuhu, though mining activity has been going on in the area, it was done locally
until Dan China through his company introduced modern mining method thereby,
making company Zurak the centre of local economy activity and development
because according to him, the community now is the most rapidly developed among
its peers within the zone and has become the envy of other communities.
Corroborating
Nuhu’s position, Muhammadu Ubandoma also said that thought mining in Kompany
Zurak existed more than hundred years but it was done in crude and in an
uncivilized manner until the arrival of Dan China which marked the turning
point in the history of the community.
According
to him, apart from cost effective that modern mining equipment offers, it also
ensures safe working conditions for miners.
He
also urged the government to consider it a duty to the community to re-open the
site.
“Dan
china has enhanced our economic capacity and unknowingly to this government, it
has benefitted immensely from that. I know how much we spent in 2015 to ensure
that Lalong and Maje won their elections. All these were made possible through
the mining activity.
“We
embarked on a vigorous campaign mobilization to ensure their success in 2015. I
am a political bigwig in this community. In my house alone, I have more than 35
eligible voters under my control, not to talk of the larger political
followership outside my home.
“I
was sustaining this followership out of the proceeds from the activities in the
mining site. Now that the site is closed, the implication is that our source of
livelihood is also closed. Tell me, with this development, how do I approach
the people and even convince them to vote for Buhari and Lalong again? They all
witnessed what happened.
“They
are aware. They all believe that Lalong and Maje are the architect of Dan China’s
misfortune. We have tried our best to convince them that it is not so but they won’t
believe.
“They
would tell you they are not fools. So, to me, withdrawing the matter by the
federal government is a good step. How ever, members of this community have not
really convinced that the matter has been withdrawn from court and Dan china is
free until activity resumes in the mining site.” He said.
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| Ubandoma |
In
his words Muhammadu Ciroma, Chairman host community (Kompany Zurak) said
Governor Simon Lalong owed it a duty to push for the re-opening of the mining
site to strengthen the economic capacity of he community more so that the 2019
general elections is around the corner.
“Our
appeal to Government is to order for the re-opening of the site so that it
would strengthen our capacity for the campaigns towards the 2019 general
elections. As a matter of fact, this government should not blame us if we turn
our back against it as a result of its refusal to re-open the mining site. That’s
just the truth and it is our sincere message to Buhari and Lalong. We have
never felt the impact of any government. No administration ever recognizes us.
Abdullahi Adamu is our government. It is as a result of his empowerment that
enabled us campaigned for Buhari and Lalong in 2015. And now that our source of
empowerment is closed, there is nothing we can do in 2019. So, I strongly
advised that the mining site be re-opening.” Said Ciroma.
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| Haruna Nuhu |
In
his submission Bala Waziri said that Dan china needed to be encouraged taking
into account what he has done to the community,” Today, I understand that the
representatives of the government, are here, I want them to take the message to
Governor Lalong that probably through his effort, Dan china is released, what he
needs to do now is to ensure that the mining site is re-open otherwise, we cant
guarantee him our votes next year.”
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