Bajju Professionals Seek New Political Culture

The demand for a new political consciousness took centre stage at the weekend as sons and daughters of Bajju converged on Zonkwa for the 2026 Bajju Professional Careers Development (BPCD) and Kajju Political Summit.

The summit, organised by the Bajju Professionals, drew professionals, traditional rulers, political aspirants, youth and women groups, and community stakeholders from across Kajju land and beyond to Gwaben Hall in the Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State.

With the theme, “Building and Sensitisation of a Politically- driven Community, Mentoring Future Leaders for the Growth and Development of Kajju Land,” participants said the summit was timely, coming at a time when Southern Kaduna requires purposeful leadership, unity and strategic political engagement.

Setting the tone, president of the Bajju Professionals, Dr Sheyin David Madaki, said the summit was born out of concern for the future of Kajju Land and the need for a credible platform for political enlightenment, professional networking and leadership mentorship.

He said the association is non-partisan and development-oriented, with a focus on making Bajju people, especially young professionals, politically aware, economically empowered and socially responsible.

“We cannot continue to complain about leadership from the sidelines. We must build a community that understands politics, participates in politics and uses politics as a tool for development,” he said.

Chairman, Central Planning Committee, Mr Peter Sunday Kazah, said the future of Kajju rests on its youths and urged them to shun thuggery, vote-buying and divisive sentiments and embrace education, dialogue and community service.

“We are not just organising an event; we are planting a seed for a new Kajju — a Kajju where the youth will be trained to lead with integrity, where professionalism will meet politics, and where development will be the ultimate goal,” Kazah said.

In his keynote address, President of the Bajju Association, Mr Bege Andrew Ahuwan, called for unity and collective action, warning against internal wrangling and pull-him-down syndrome that have weakened the Bajju people’s collective voice.

Chairman of the occasion, Dr Zacharia Suleiman Dauke, said development does not happen by accident but through intentional planning, sacrifice and servant leadership, challenging professionals not to abandon politics to “accidental leaders”.

Delivering the lead paper, Dr Danjuma Ephraim, who spoke on building a sustainable, politically driven community, said Bajju must build a conscious, united culture that transcends party lines, clans, and personal ambitions, and institutionalise civic education and accountability.

Prof. Bakut Tswah Bakut, who spoke on mentoring future leaders, decried the absence of mentorship in Nigeria’s political journey and proposed a Bajju Leadership Mentorship Academy to groom youths on ethics, governance, public speaking and conflict resolution.

“If we fail to mentor our young ones, we will continue to recycle leaders who have no understanding of our history and no roadmap for our future,” he warned.

The Agwom Kajju II, His Royal Highness Luka Kogi Yabwat, commended the initiative, describing it as noble and visionary, and pledged the palace’s support for programmes that promote peace, unity and development.

Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, representing Kaduna South, in a goodwill message delivered by his Senior Legislative Aide, Mr Bagudu Joseph, said the future of Southern Kaduna depends on how well its people organise politically, noting that unity remains the strongest weapon for any minority group.

The summit also featured interactive sessions with aspirants for the Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency — Hon. Seth Bakut (ADC), Hon. Rijo Shekari (PDP) and Hon. Gideon Jock (PRP) — who spoke on issue-based politics, youth inclusion and infrastructure-driven representation, underscoring the non-partisan character of the platform.