Religious/tribal conflict: Uba Sani, Emir of Zazzau sue for peace
By Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna
The Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Uba Sani and the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness Ambassador Nuhu Bamali have called for peace among residents of the state while also lamenting the impacts of ethnic and religious division that has resulted to conflicts in the state both in the past and present.
Senator Uba Sani on Wednesday in Kaduna, expressed dismay over the level of intolerance amongst citizens, during the reflection meeting on strategies for achieving sustainable peace and social harmony in Kaduna, a program organised by the Kaduna State Peace Commission.
According to the Governor, Kaduna State has had its fair share of ethnic and religious conflicts in so many ways, adding that although the intensity of the conflicts have drastically reduced but the fear of escalation due to tussles for land and other factors remain strong.
He expressed worries that he is now a Governor of a State, where all government’s actions or inactions are viewed from the lenses of religion and ethnicity, a state where emotions run high at the slightest provocation or perception of injustice, stressing that the people remains as captives of the past that is marked by incessant conflicts, bloodletting, hate and distrust.
Sani said the citizens no longer give them the benefits of doubt because of their past experiences, meanwhile his administration remains focus in uniting the people with the determination to ensure that equity and justice reign supreme in the state under his administration.
He said, “As your Chief Servant, I am deeply worried by the ethnic and religious divisions in Kaduna State. I am the Governor of a State where all government’s actions or inactions are viewed from the lenses of religion and ethnicity. I manage a state where emotions run high at the slightest provocation or perception of injustice. We are captives of our past. A past marked by incessant conflicts, bloodletting, hate and distrust.
“I am a product of the human rights and pro-democracy movement. We have zero tolerance for discrimination. I will sustain our cherished ideals. With the support of the good people of Kaduna State, we shall build a state where no man or woman will feel oppressed. We shall build a state where no person or place will be left behind.
“But we must break loose from our unpleasant past. We must collectively free ourselves from the grip of conflict merchants and agents of retrogression. We must change the narrative and bring development and progress into the discourse.
“We must harness our diversity and turn it into an asset. If Rwanda that experienced ethnic cleansing that shocked the world can become an ‘oasis’ of peace and ethnic harmony, we have no excuse to remain captives of our past. We can replicate the Rwandan Example in Kaduna State.
“We shall empower the Kaduna State Peace Commission to strengthen its delivery of its mandate to anticipate and help deter and resolve conflicts. Similarly, this administration shall strengthen the Kaduna State Vigilance Service to complement the efforts of the federal security agencies.
“We shall empower the Kaduna State Peace Commission to strengthen its delivery of its mandate to anticipate and help deter and resolve conflicts. Similarly, this administration shall strengthen the Kaduna State Vigilance Service to complement the efforts of the federal security agencies.”
In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Saleh Momale, said the commission has achieved drastic mile stone in its peace building efforts through interreligious dialogues and other mechanisms.
Momale disclosed that many of the conflict prone areas in Kaduna state are no longer witnessing violence, even as efforts are ongoing to build social harmony that will ensure enduring peace and stability in all parts of the state.
He noted that Kaduna state government has succeeded in bringing together elected representatives, states and Local Government institutions, law enforcement agencies, traditional, Political and religious leaders, among other partners to work together for peace and social harmony in the state and the results so far is massive.
In the same vein, the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness Ambassador Nuhu Bamali said peace is a non-negotiable asset of every society even as it remains the universal craving of every society.
He charged leaders at all levels to champion the course of peace in their respective communities, noting that it’s important for people to have trust and confidence in the people that they are living with as it would reduce the challenges of conflict amount citizens to the barest minimum.
