Group Tasks Bauchi Youth Groups On Dialogue

A group, Diwa Brave-TAN TOT Alumni has called on various youths in Bauchi to always adopt dialogue and negotiation to solve conflicts among them for the overall socio-economic development of the state.

The alumni state coordinator in charge of Bauchi, Mr Sani Mu’azu Tama, said this during a sensitisation workshop organised for youth groups at PTDF Hall, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi over the weekend.

He said the workshop was designed to change the perception of youths of conflict-prone communities of Yelwa and Birshi against extremism and violence and find ways of resolving conflicts in a peaceful manner without bloodshed.

Tama said considering the cost of conflicts, there is a need for youths, who are always at the front burner of any conflict, to learn to resolve issues amicably through  dialogue, writing of complaints to the authorities concerned by bringing their attention to a particular subject demanding for a solution.

The coordinator explained Yelwa has been known with the issues of religious conflicts and crisis in the state.

“We want to eradicate their thoughts, thinking and perceptions of extremism among the youth and embrace dialogue as a means of resolving conflicts through this kind of local symposium which we believe can foster peace and unity in those communities.

“This kind of system has been practiced in many different states and has achieved a great success where people are now living in peace with one another, why not in our state,” he said.

The coordinator, said communities can also engage in preaching in their mosques and churches to educate people on the importance of living in peace among different ethnic groups.

The Bauchi local government area chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Daniel Rikes, commended the organisers for their foresight, describing the workshop as timely.

He appealed to the organisers to extend the same workshop to other stakeholders like traditional leaders and religious groups as well as primary and secondary schools respectively.

On his part, president of Bauchi State Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, Dr Rabiu Barau Ball, who represented Mal Saidu Yahaya said patients are the key to success in every aspect of life, adding that the prophet teaches patients among all Muslims.