Kaduna South Not In Crisis, Faces Series Of Conflicts, Confrontations and Challenges – – Fadason

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ZAINAB TANIMU
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Kaduna South Not In Crisis, Faces Series Of Conflicts, Confrontations and Challenges – – Fadason
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, North -West, Nigeria
The southern Kaduna situation has been a lingering and very worrisome one.
A former Chairman, NUJ Kaduna Council,
Veteran Journalist and public speaker Andrew Fadason has described the unhealthy situation that  has bedevilled the southern parts of Kaduna  as that of conflicts, confrontations and challenges rather than crisis as being portrayed by many.
This was brought to light during a lecture delivered at the occasion of the Maiden Annual Lecture/Award organized by Kabido Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Kaduna.
 Fadason while delivering a lecture titled, Southern Kaduna Crisis, How Has The Media Fared’ said the media has feared poorly.
However he salutes the courage of journalists for ever ready to give in for self assessment,  a quality that makes them different from other professions. He said.
“The media has allowed itself to be used by politicians, government, religious leaders and conflict merchants. They manipulate the media to suit their interest.
We have failed to see that every party promotes its own interest.
“Let me draw our attention to the fact that what we have generalised as CRISIS is not wholly crisis as such. What we have had, and still have, are series of conflicts, confrontations and challenges which are normal in pluralistic societies. To narrow the situation in the region to CRISIS is to veil the main issues that characterise that situation.
“Ladies and gentlemen, my answer to the poser: How Has the Media Fared? is simply: Poorly! But there is room for improvement.
“At an occasion like this, it is always gratifying to share a word or two with colleagues regarding what makes us special as journalists and to reflect among ourselves on some of the issues that affect our daily duties.
“It is more interesting to see journalists not focusing attention on society but on themselves in a manner of self – assessment.
He continued.
The theme: Southern Kaduna Crisis: How Has the Media Fared? is an interesting one for self – reflection and assessment. It affords us in Kaduna the opportunity to assess our performances regarding the region.
Fadason challenged journalists against  irresponsible reportage.
People he said look onto them to give objective reportage as such should not compromise the ethics of the profession by allowing themselves to be used.
“If we report issues without sentiments it is very clear that we will find resolutions to the problems at stake.
“In reporting, we should look at the human elements of the story so as to avoid heightening the story.
“Close to 90 per cent of the stories published are one-sided; they present one side of the fact(s) and so are not balanced. Press statements and personality interviews are treated as if they were sacrosanct with no need for verification of contentious facts or claims.
“We have allowed sentiments to take over our job. What is happening in Southern Kaduna is not crisis but confrontations, conflicts and challenges.”
The presenter  also charged journalists to guide against using screaming headlines. They should make it a point of duty to visit scenes of incidences for according to him, some do armchair reporting.
“We have continued to use vocabulary that heighten tension rather than dousing them. We use phrases such as genocide and ethnic cleansing as if what we are experiencing in southern Kaduna is similar to what happened in Nazi Germany, Rwanda and former Yugoslavia.
“Political actors, religious leaders government, conflicts merchants use journalists as tools to achieve their interest and dump them.
“We have failed to point accusing fingers on conflict merchants.
Lamenting,
“There have been more than 5 conflicts regarding the Southern Kaduna issue of which recommendations had been made which government is yet to address. He said.
Fadason urged journalists to get to the crust of the matter saying, the people of southern Kaduna made up of different tribes and socio-cultural dynamics have peacefully lived and co-habited for many years as such is a wrong signal portraying them in the media as trying to grab each others land.
“For example, the Atyp, Adara, Bajju, Jaba, Hausa, and Fulani are not the only natives of southern Kaduna. There are others, in fact about 30 other ethnic settlers, including the Kahugu, Marwa, Kagoro, Attakar Katurmi, Kagoma and Kaninkon among others. These nationalities have lived and co-habited in the region for centuries, and to brand some as settlers trying to steal or grab aboriginals’ land can be misleading. And for centuries these nationalities have lived peacefully and in harmony.”
“I believe that our inability to impact positively on the conflicts in southern Kaduna is as a result of our not asking four relevant questions and seeking answers to them. These question include: Why have people who have lived together—co-habiting and marrying each other—become foes to the extent that they are shedding blood? Why has no one been successfully prosecuted for either being responsible for the carnage or bloodletting or being an accomplice or sponsor? Why have the conflicts lasted decades without any solution in sight?
“Lastly, whose interests are served by the unending conflicts: conflict entrepreneurs, government, the people, or the ravaged communities?
While hoping that the needful will be done in finding lasting solution to the problem, he said,
“I am hopeful that we can do better towards the containment containing of the conflicts and insecurity in southern Kaduna. We have so far raised the consciousness of the world to the conflicts in the region; our responsibility now is to set the agenda for a resolution of the conflicts.
“We have to be peace advocates and ambassadors in the search for peace. It is not enough to report; we have to interpret factually and contextually, the dynamics and factors impacting on the conflicts.
“We have to campaign strenuously for social justice, fairness, political inclusivity, socio-economic empowerment, level playing ground for all, and strengthening of structures and community driven initiatives that will catalyse in sustainable peace and harmony”. He urged.
Appreciating the speaker in analysing the southern Kaduna issue, the Council Secretary , Comrade Femi Adi raised the issue of the indigenes not making available the needed information to the press.  Not only that, journalists should be accorded their rightful position as the 4th estate of the realm by giving them due recognition just as its being done to their counterparts in other places as well as provide for them an  enabling environment to discharge their duties. Added veteran journalist, Tajudeen Ajibade.
Present at the event were representative of the state government, Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan who enjoined journalists to use their platforms in helping to promote peace.
Others were representatives of One  Division Nigeria Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps as well as Religious leaders.

All poured out their minds on how to end the worrisome trend. There is the need to ensure that peace return to southern Kaduna, they maintained.
This is achievable if the warring parties give peace a chance by burying the hatchet and develop a heart devoid of hatred and mistrust. Only then can they return to those good old days of peaceful and harmonious co-existence.
As part of the event, the following were given Peace Award in recognition of their contributions to the society and hard work.
Altogether, 9 individuals received ‘Media Peace Award of Excellence’.
Four outsiders, Senator Danjuma La’ah, Chief Anthony Hassan, Alh.Muhammad Umar  Numbu and Dr.Priscilla Ankut
Five journalists were amongst the recipients.
Comrade  Adamu   Marshal, the Chairman/CEO, Kabido Newspapers, Ibrahima Yakubu, opinion correspondent, German International Radio, Saxone Akhaine of Guardian Newspapers, Sola Ojo of the Sun Newspapers and Hajia Zainab Tanimu publisher, Newsreservoir who received ‘The Best Female Online Journalist Of the Year’ Award.
Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan presenting award to publisher, News reservoir, Zainab Tanimu
To add color to the event was a 10yrs old Jackson Onyekachi Geoman from Imo state who thrilled the gathering with his melodious voice.
Little Onyekachi named “African Michael Jackson” by Hollywood Diva Helen Snow
after late King of Pop, Micheal Jackson, (his mentor) has 2 singles to his credit.
Supported by his father Mr. Geoman who also doubles as his manager, the young lad according to him is ready to pursue his musical career to the fullest. All he needs is support from well meaning Nigerians to make his dream come true. He added
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