Despite the fact that some of the tribes within a particular Local Government Council in southern kaduna are not far from each other in terms of distance, they do not understand one another except in few cases.
For instance, while Ikulu and Kamantom in Zango Kataf Local Government understand JU which is the language of Baju, Kataf and Kamantom does not hear the Baju’s Language. The list goes on and on.
To further proof the difference among these ethnic groups, our correspondent interviewed some tribes within a particular Local Government Council and noticed the differences in the names the tribes called different items.
For instance, the Bajjus and the Katafs are in the same Zango Kataf Local Government Council and this is what NEWSWORLD gathered about them.
Water is called SOKHWOT in Kataf but BEKWOT in Baju. SAKPHAT is maize in Kataf but BAYAPKIHAT in Baju.
Gbaygi and Koro are the major tribes in Kagarko Local Government Council, and, despite sharing the same Local Government Council, they speaks difference languages. While oil palm is NZUMI in Gbaygi, it is known as BARARIN in Koro. NSHAMA is yam in Gbaygi but GUZA in Koro. In fact, the list is endless.
Disparity in languages among the people of Southern Kaduna senatorial district explains why there is no unity among the people. This has allowed the HAUSAS from the northern senatorial zone to be dominating the people of Southern Kaduna in many ways.
For instance, Kafanchan which is the headquarters of the zone is headed by the Emir of Jama’a who is an Hausa man instead of having one of the ethnic group within the area to occupy the prestigious position.
This lack of unity is equally robbing the people of the zone in political appointment because there is no way the people would unite and present an acceptable candidate to vie for the position of the state governor. Since the creation of the state and up till now, nobody, from the zone has become the governor of the state except, Patrick Yakowa.
Even the incumbent governor (Patrick Yakowa) that assumed the position of governor due to divine intervention as a result of the elevation of his former boss (Namadi Sambo) as Vice President cannot guarantee his own return to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House (Government House) next year if the 2011elections would hold. This is because as campaign begins any moment from now, various candidates within the zone would start emerging.
By then, an Ikulu man would say he is not Jaba while Gbaygi man would say he is not Kamanton.
However, any average Hausa man presented from the northern zone would be supported by the Hausas even though he is from Chad or Niger Republic so far he is a muslim and claim Hausa tribe.
While religion and language unites the Hausas, the duo of religion and language disunites the southern Kaduna people despite the fact that they are predominantly Christians.
So, God’s visitation to mankind at Babel which made man to be divided till today is still manifesting in Southern Kaduna. The question on everyone’s lip is: When will the Southern Kaduna people speak with one voice?
