Southern Kaduna’s traditional leaders have endorsed a unity movement organized by the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association in partnership with well-known Islamic clerics.
Stakeholders have called the high-level gathering, which was held in Kafanchan on Thursday, a historic turning point for the region, as it brought together monarchs from various ethnic and religious backgrounds.
The plan was a daring attempt to promote long-term peace and stimulate regional prosperity.
Apostle Emmanuel Kure, the convener and chairman of the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders, stated that the purpose of the peace summit was to fortify the recent gains in regional stability and establish a shared course for the advancement and cohabitation of the people of Southern Kaduna.
He claimed that mounting worries about the region’s precarious peace and the pressing need for long-term cooperation led to the decision to bring together traditional and religious leaders.
“The times are changing, and we might miss the chance to create the future our kids deserve if we don’t get over our past conflicts and differences. The goal of this meeting is to rebuild trust and create bridges.
Christian and Muslim leaders gathered together in a rare display of solidarity, with traditional authorities voicing their resounding support for the peace effort.
Alhaji Muhammadu Muhammadu II, the Emir of Jama’a, and Dr. Ufuwai Bonnet, the Chief of Kagoro, spoke on behalf of the royal fathers and praised the religious leaders’ efforts.
They described the gathering as “timely and necessary” and pledged their commitment to ensuring its success.
“This initiative was not only commendable but essential for the survival of our people,” the Emir of Jama’a said.
Also, Bonnet echoed similar sentiments, calling on all leaders and stakeholders to rise above partisanship and ethnic interests in the pursuit of unity.
“We must stand as one people. If we are united, nothing can hold us back,” he stated.
Others in attendance at the peace initiative summit included elders and community influencers, many of whom expressed optimism that the meeting could pave the way for a new era of inter-ethnic and inter-religious collaboration in the region.
The Kafanchan gathering, according to observers, is a crucial step in the process of institutionalizing peace in Southern Kaduna, a region that has long struggled with sporadic violence and ethno-religious conflicts.
According to PUNCH Online, the summit was a component of a larger plan to include traditional institutions in peacebuilding frameworks, with plans to create collaborative development committees and regular conversation forums already in the works.
A few of the meeting’s participants urged the Kaduna State Government and security organizations to back the project and give the required support to carry out the summit’s objectives.
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