Peace Is A Collective Responsibility … Says, Kaduna State Peace Commission

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ZAINAB TANIMU
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Peace Is A Collective Responsibility … Says, Kaduna State Peace Commission
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna Northwest Nigeria
 
 Citizens have been charged to support the government and relevant agencies in their efforts to ensuring peaceful coexistence in Kaduna state.
The Chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, His Grace, Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon gave this charge during a press conference held at the Commission’s Office in Kaduna, Tuesday 7 December 2021.
Peace he said is a collective responsibility as such urges everybody’s support in the course to attaining sustainable peace and development in the state.
Though tasking the responsibilities of the Commission, it has recorded measurable achievements but not without some challenges. He stated.
“In the pursuit for peace and social harmony, the Commission has engaged In dialogue with everybody, listening to all parties and groups, and above all, responding to the concerns, worries,
fears and needs of citizens.
“The political leaders and political parties, particularly the Interparty Advisory Council (0PAC), Kaduna State Chapter have been our consistent and supportive partners. The Commission is also an active participant in the ongolng global campaign to end violence against women, appealing to our citizens to speak out and take appropriate action to end domestic and other forms of violence against the girl child and women.
“Through these efforts, I am highly pleased to note the significant progress that has been made in de-escalating the drivers of violence in all parts of the State. Happily, our major cities of Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan have not witnessed violent conflict throughout the year.
 “Again, the previousiy
conflict prone areas of Sanga, Kajuru, Igabi and Chikun have remained peaceful in the year.
Initiatives to sustain the peace and strengthen harmonious relations are being vigorously pursued
in these Local Governments. The Chairman stated.
Expatiating on the commission’s activities,
“The task of orienting citizens to imbibe the culture and values of adopting peaceful means to resolve all disputes in conflicting communities is not an easy one. Engaging communities and
diverse stakeholders to work together to deal with extreme tendencies from all sides of the conflicting parties to prevent violence is a herculean endeavour. Again, getting the custodians of value indoctrination who are our parents, teachers, religious preachers, peer groups and other social and community Institutions to  the spirit inculcate of tolerance, accommodation and respect
for “others” is also not an easy task.
However, to facilitate the tasks, the commission has put some  mechanisms in place,  one  of such being the establishment of an ICT-based conflict early warning and eariy.response system.
“The Government of Norway and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have Supported the Commission to establish an ICT-based conflict early warning and eariy.response
system (CEWERS). The CEWERS is equipped with state of the art facilities that provide a platform for citizens to communicate and report incidences and threats to peace. The platform receives messages through verbal, short message service (commonly known as SMS or text messages, email, mobile app and web portal.
“Mechanisms are inbuilt in the system to prompt immediate action by various emergency responders including the Commission, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders and Local Government Peace Committees, among others.
“Furthermore, in a democratic dispensation, getting politicians
to eschew all forms of divisive politics even where it will benefit a section of the political class is likewise a fundamental challenge. These are the tasks the Kaduna State Peace Commission is
shouldering over these years.
Rev. Idowu- Fearon described insecurity as posing a setback to the Commission’s activities.
“Criminal activities including kidnapping of persons for ransom, armed robbery, rustling of cattle and raiding of villages for various motives have posed a tremendous challenge. Even though these incidences are criminal in nature, they have strained inter-community relations especially in parts of Birnin Gwari, lgabi, Giwa, Chikun, Kajuru, Zangon Katat and Jema’a Local Govermment Areas arising out of profiling and stereotyping of one group or the other. I urge the people of the State to work with security agencies to help in reversing the trend of these criminal activities. I also appeal.
to leaders at all levels to help in creating the right awareness that criminality has no ethnicity, religion or place of origin, and that we all need to cooperate to end this ugly development in our
dear State and nation.
While acknowledging the contributions of the state government, Kaduna Ministry of Internal Security and Home
Affalrs, relevant stakeholders and international partners, he noted that some conflicts which were to become violent were nipped on board  through prompt interventions.
“In this task, the Commission has enjoyed  tremendous support and
goodwill from the Government, our  respected traditional rulers, the revered religious leaders, the
media, youths and women groups, students and indeed the vibrant civil society groups.
Rev.Josiah called on the media not to relent in the dissemination of messages to the pupulace which he said is vital.
“Since the establishment of the Kaduna State Peace Commission some four years ago, the Media is among the important mouthplece, relaying peace messages and assisting us In mobilizing the citlzinanry to Imbibe the culture and practice of peaceful coexistence. It is therefore my pleasure to thank you all for being an important and reliable partner of the Commission In its drive to support and strengthen social harmony and peaceful coexistence.”.
“I wish to acknowledge the consistent efforts of the Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of Mallam Nasir E-Rufa’i towards peace building, working with diverse stakeholders at local, national and international levels. Over the years, the administration has demonstrated consistent commitment to reversing the spate of violent conflicts and restoring the State to its known culture of peace, security and progressive development. As part of the efforts, the State Government has invested heavily in human capital and infrastructure development, while streamlining the structures of governance for effective service delivery and performance.
” I note with appreciation the efforts of various international organisations, civil society groups and community based organisations in supporting peace building activities, resulting to the prevention of numerous conflicts that would have had enormous consequences, In particular, the efforts by the United States Institute of Peace, the Government of Norway, the United Nations Development Programme, Mercy Corps, CLEEN Foundation and Centre for Humanitarian Dlalogue in supporting the Commission in the various peace initiatives.
Collectively, we can achieve peace. Collectively, we will reverse the, narratives that promote violence and build a consensus on the most important ways of pursuing the course of a common destiny, irrespective of the differences among us. I urge us all to work for peace, stand for peace and ensure peace wherever we are
“Since the establishment of the Kaduna State Peace Commission some four years ago, the Media is among the important mouthplece, relaying peace messages and assisting us In mobilizing the citlzinanry to Imbibe the culture and practice of peaceful coexistence. It is therefore my pleasure to thank you all for being an important and reliable partner of the Commission In its drive to support and strengthen social harmony and peaceful coexistence.”.
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