Kukah Centre, Global Right Organize Town Hall Meeting to Promote Peace, Security

…As stakeholders say institutional failure responsible for insecurity

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

Kukah Centre in collaboration with Global Right a Non governmental Organizations, on Tuesday organized high level town meeting to help in promoting peace and security in North Western Nigeria.

Speaking at the event Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, said the meeting became necessary looking at the recent happening in the region.

He further explained that sectionalism, fanatism , injustice , religious intolerance are responsible for insecurity in the country.

“You know most of this problem at times is as a result of proper understanding of our religion, when we are dealing with ourselves we should know we are dealing with Nigerians not religion,” he stated.

The revered cleric noted that one cannot fight for God, stressing that “we shouldn’t quarrel on how we worship God.”

He maintained that governments had a role to play not only by giving money but by providing effective communication in building dialogue.

He further urged stakeholders at the meeting to come together to form common front in curbing the menace, saying insecurity know no religion.

On his part, the Governor of Sokoto state Dr Ahmed Aliyu represented by the permanent secretary ministry of religious affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Toronkawa, said his administration had made deliberate efforts in promoting peace in the state.

He reiterated that youth and women empowerment, job creation and frequent security meeting was part of the efforts put in place by his administration to tackle insecurity.

He further explained that his administration would support any initiative geared toward promoting peace and social development.

Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, represented by Sa’in of Kilgore Dr Muhammad Jabbi Kilgore, thanked Kukah Centre and Global Right for organizing the meeting.

The monarch explained that bad governance, injustice , inequality were some factors contributing to insecurity.

He charged those in authority to be fair in dealing with their subjects, saying they would give account of their stewardship after leaving this world.

The Sokoto state commissioner of police, Ali Hayattu Kaigama, said police through community policing would continue to engage stakeholders in its effort in peace building.

He further disclosed that Nigeria police would partner the Nigerian army and other sister security agencies in tackling insecurity bedeviling the country.

Some stakeholders who spoke blamed institutional failure for security challenges facing the nation.

They pointed out that corruption, economic hardship, poverty, unemployment were responsible for insecurity in the country, they also condemned jungle justice urging people not to take law into their hands.