From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Northern leaders have been charged to convoke a regional conference with a view to addressing the numerous problems facing the region in recent times.

 Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, who gave the charge, said the Northern leaders should regard the problems as more important than the 2023 elections.

 He said what should be paramount to every leader in the Northern part of the country, was the security of people and the unity of purpose, which the region was long known for considering the daily shedding of blood by terrorists and other criminal groups.

“Northern leaders and the people of the North need to set a conference of its own to look into the fault lines to address its problems and challenges.

“The immediate importance is that of peace, security and unity. The Northern part of Nigeria today is evidently disunited. Divisive forces are in control of the affairs of the state. People in the North are more polarized along religious and ethnic sentiment than have ever been in the history of our country. People are ready to kill and die in the name of religion and ethnicity and are not ready to die in the name of their own country.

“Political Leaders who are exploiting the sensibility and sensitivity of our people in order to re-enforce their political fortresses or stabilize their political thrust must be resisted. That is the fact, because our people are dying, our people are being killed every day, but we need to stand up and fight these divisive forces for the unity, peace and for the future of our country,” he passionately stated.

 “National unity is not all about coat of arms, is not all about National Flag, Green-white-Green, it’s also not about National Anthem, but is about peace, justice, equity, fairness and proportional representation.

 “If you alienate a certain sections of Nigerians or marginalised them, you are only planting the seed of disharmony”, he said.

 Commenting on the withdrawal of invitation earlier sent to Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai as a guest speaker at Nigerian Bar Association conference, Sani said: “The lawyers have a constitutional right to do that, those lawyers, who wrote the petition clearly states their positions which are very fundamental and constitutional. He can be on any other platforms if invited, but not this one because they made their position clear.”

On the issue of 2023 presidency, the ex- lawmaker said as a democrat, who strongly believes in rotation of power, for the interest of Justice, equity and fairness, power should move to the Southern region”

“It is not healthy for a nation, where some people feel they have the population and as such, will decide when to leave power”, he said.

NCPC Plans Peace Summit for Kaduna South

 The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has concluded plans to convene a three-day peace meeting next month to seek lasting solutions to the crisis in Southern Kaduna.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam, disclosed this in Kaduna during a condolence visit to the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union at Barnawa, Kaduna state.

In a statement by Head of Media, Celestine Toruka, the NCPC Boss said he was at the Secretariat of the Union to pay a condolence visit on the loss of lives of innocent people of Southern Kaduna, following the recent crisis that erupted in the area. He called on both the Federal and state governments to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes in Southern Kaduna were brought to justice.

Rev Pam noted role of the Union, which he said had been the voice of the people adding, Southern Kaduna people were receptive, accommodating and friendly to visitors in their communities.

The Executive Secretary described the current situation in Southern Kaduna as the handiwork of the enemy and promised consult the relevant authorities to fish out those behind the killings.

He cautioned  all stakeholders  to be  circumspect with their utterances so as not to escalate the fragile situation in Southern Kaduna.

President of the Union, Hon. Jonathan Asake, who received the Executive Secretary described him as ” a messenger of peace “,  and also congratulated him on his recent appointment as the Executive Secretary of the NCPC.

 ”We are not in anyway surprised that you have continued in what you know how to do best”, Akase stated.

 ”We in Southern Kaduna have tried to tell the world that what is going on is genocide and ethnic cleansing and that the actions and inactions of our leaders and utterances are not helping matters,” he stressed.

 The NCPC Chief Executive also met with the Southern Kaduna Elders led by Major General Zamani Lekwot (rtd) in his residence in Kaduna to brief him on his mission.

 In his remarks at the meeting, Rev Pam described the Southern Kaduna as a mini Nigeria, where people hitherto lived in peace and harmony until the recent crisis.

  The current situation in the area, he said was a painful experience for the people.

“The questions in the mouth of every Nigerian is when will this crisis end?” he querried and  tasked  the Southern Kaduna elders to forgive their enemies, while promising to do his best to raise the level of intelligence so that those who come to the communities in the night to kill innocent and harmless people would be stopped.  He equally called on the Southern Kaduna youth to ceasefire in order to chart a new course, adding that the elders had a big responsibility to ensure that the younger ones did not take laws into their hands. Major General Lekwot congratulated Rev Pam on his appointment, adding that “NCPC is a platform that unites all faithful, going on pilgrimage is the dream of every believer”.

He commended Executive Secretary for  the visit to commiserate with the people.

Lekwot charged people in authority to ensure that the root  causes of the problem  were addressed in order to create a conducive atmosphere for peace to reign.

“Nigeria is not a banana republic and the rule of the law must be enforced” he said adding, “we want the bandits to live us alone so that life will return to normal” he said.

Rev. Pam was also at the Southern Kaduna Development Association Forum where he met with their Chairman, Dr Zuwaghu Bonat and other leaders of the association.

 He condoled with them on the loss of the innocent lives of the people of Southern Kaduna and tasked them on the need for a ceasefire in the hostilities.