Kukah Centre in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, Global Right has organised a town hall meeting to promote peace and security in North West of Nigeria.
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah said the meeting was prompted by the heightened insecurity in the region.
He said sectionalism, fanaticism, injustice and religious intolerance were responsible for insecurity in the country.
“You know most of these problems at times are as a result of misunderstanding our religion, when we are dealing with ourselves, we should know we are dealing with Nigerians, not religion.
“We shouldn’t quarrel on how we worship God because one cannot fight for God,” the cleric said.
He urged stakeholders at the meeting to form a common front in curbing the menace, saying insecurity knows no religion.
On his part, Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State, represented by the permanent secretary, ministry of religious affairs, Abubakar Toronkawa, said his administration had made deliberate efforts in promoting peace in the state.
He reiterated that youth and women empowerment, job creation and frequent security meetings are part of the efforts put in place by his administration to tackle insecurity.
He said his administration would support any initiative geared toward promoting peace and social development.
Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the Sa’in of Kilgore, Muhammad Jabbi Kilgore, thanked the Kukah Centre and Global Right for organizing the meeting.
The monarch said bad governance, injustice and inequality were among factors fueling insecurity in the region and Nigeria.
He charged those in authorities to be fair in dealing with their subjects, saying they would give account of their stewardship after leaving this world.
Sokoto State commissioner of police, Ali Hayattu Kaigama, said the police through community policing will continue to engage stakeholders in its peace-building efforts.
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