The emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Nuhu Bamalli has called on the residents of Kaduna State and Nigerians to embrace peace and unity irrespective of tribe and religion.
The emir made the call yesterday in Kaduna at a State-level Strategic Stakeholders Engagement Workshop for Effective Early Warning Early Response (EWER) system in Nigeria organised by Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in collaboration with Kaduna State Peace Commission.
“Violence cannot take us anywhere, we must relate with each other irrespective of our differences, our differences should be seen as part of development. We should not be seen as a divided people, let us embrace love and unity,” he said.
He also urged Nigerians to see the essence of staying together as a country, urging them to shun sentiment and discrimination.
In his welcome address, the director-general of IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu who was represented by Steve Agbo explained that IPCR is in the process of building a robust conflict early response system under a project called ‘Peace Action for Rapid and Transformative Nigeria Early Response’ (PARTNER).
He appealed to participants to see how best they can mitigate and prevent conflict from becoming violent and catastrophic to human lives and property.
According to him, there are plans to expand and replicate the stakeholders’ workshop for EWERG to other states in order to reduce the spate of violence in the country.
The executive vice chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Dr Saleh Momale urged Kaduna residents to always use the EWER system by reporting conflicts in their communities.
He said the commission is working with religious and traditional leaders in order to ensure religious tolerance in the state.
“We are working with our religious leaders and traditional rulers, youth and women groups to pass the message that will encourage people of Kaduna State to embrace plurality. Religious differences should not be a basis for hatred. We are also trying to create stronger unity among the citizens”, he added.
The chief of party, PARTNER project and effective conflict early warning system in Nigeria, Chrisantus Lapang said the programme is dedicated to peace building to create linkages where stakeholders will set agenda and strategies on early warning.
He urged Nigerians to report conflict in their communities, adding that security is a collective responsibility.
