Inuwa Muhammed Jalingo
A disagreement has broken out in Kurmi Local Government Area of Taraba State over alleged imbalance in the distribution of scholarship slots reportedly facilitated by Senator Haruna Manu for youths in the area.
Community sources told The Parrot News that six slots were allocated to Kurmi and handed to Hon. Simon Dogari to coordinate on behalf of the Senator. The scholarships are said to be part of an educational support initiative intended to sponsor selected beneficiaries for studies abroad.
However, stakeholders alleged that out of the six slots, four were reportedly taken by persons from the Tigun extraction, while only one each was given to the Ndola and Ichen communities respectively. This claim has sparked concerns among residents who say equitable representation was not followed in the process.
The row deepened when the beneficiary nominated through the office of the Chairman of Kurmi LGA, Hon. Moses Maihankali, who hails from the Ndola community, was reportedly dropped at the final stage. The candidate was said to have completed all necessary processes, including a visa interview at the Indian embassy, before being removed from the final list.
A community stakeholder who first raised the alarm told The Parrot News that he reached out directly to Senator Manu to alert him to the development. According to him, the Senator referred the matter to a serving commissioner in Taraba State for further clarification and resolution.
The stakeholder said the commissioner has been engaging with concerned representatives and has assured that the issue is being reviewed to ensure fairness in the distribution of the slots. He added that the ongoing dialogue has encouraged him not to escalate the matter publicly initially, pending the outcome of the internal resolution effort.
Residents from the Ndola axis, however, insist that such developments reflect a familiar pattern of political and developmental marginalisation within the LGA. They pointed to previous incidents, including one during the tenure of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Babangida Nguroje, where federal job slots meant for Kurmi were allegedly concentrated in one community.
They argued that opportunities intended for the entire local government should be shared in a manner that reflects its multi-ethnic composition and fosters a sense of belonging among all groups. Some community elders have also urged political actors to ensure transparency and accountability in such processes to avoid breeding mistrust and division.
Political observers within the LGA say the development highlights lingering concerns over resource and opportunity sharing among ethnic communities in Kurmi, noting that government interventions must be handled carefully to avoid inflaming local tensions. Efforts toward peaceful resolution and inclusive decision–making, they noted, are necessary for unity and development in the area.
Efforts by The Parrot News to reach Hon. Simon Dogari for comments were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report, while officials close to the Senator maintained that discussions were ongoing to address the concerns raised by stakeholders.
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