The Kaduna State Peace Commission has said it is deliberately engaging the diverse stakeholders to promote a culture of dialogue, tolerance, and understanding that will lead to peaceful and harmonious coexistence in the state.
Addressing journalists yesterday shortly after their quarterly meeting, Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, said, since the inauguration of the Commission in November 2017, the Commission has worked with relevant institutions of government at the federal, state and local government levels, the traditional institutions, religious bodies, civil society organisations, the media, political parties, security establishments, women and youth groups, community-based organisations and indeed wide range of the citizenry to tackle the key drivers of conflicts in the state.
“These drivers include competition over scarce use of resources, negative ethnoreligious perceptions, youths restiveness, and insecurity, among others”.
Fearon said the Commission is satisfied with the level of cooperation received from the government and people of Kaduna State. “It is this support and the commitment of the people to significantly minimise the protracted inter-communal disturbances that characterise the state in recent years.
“Even with these achievements made possible by people’s participation, inter-communal disturbances are yet to be all over, as there are still occasional threats and violence. The Commission and its partners will continue to focus its activities on these areas, and I am optimistic that these disturbances will soon become history.
“Differences will continue to exist and competing needs will continue to exist. However, these should not lead to violence. What I am therefore advocating is that all grievances, concerns, and fears of communities should be addressed and resolved using non-violence means, mainly in the form of dialogue”.
Archbishop Fearon urged the media to prioritise peace, work for peace, report for peace and direct their commentaries and editorials towards peace. “I appeal to you all to resist the temptations to support any provocative publications that may not be in the interest of peaceful and harmonious coexistence, be it political, ethnic or religious. The Commission will continue to count on your support at all times”. He stated.
