In Kaduna, for a secure north: Governors Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Atiku Bagudu ( Kebbi), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Kassim Shettima (Borno) and Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina) at a joint meeting of the Northern State Governors’ Forum and the Chairmen of the Council of Chiefs of the northern states on Monday, 23rd January 2017, reports Premium Times
The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairmen of councils of traditional rulers across the 19 States of northern Nigeria, Sa’ad Abubakar, has met with governors in the region over the continuing violence in Southern Kaduna.
Hundreds have been killed in the area since last year in clashes between Fulani herdsmen and locals of the area.
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said 204 people have been killed. But the figure has been disputed, with the Catholic Church putting the death toll at 808 early January.
The federal government and the Kaduna governments have been accused of not doing enough to end the killings.
The meeting of governors and traditional leaders is expected to help in finding a solution.
Abubakar expressed concern over the use of places of religious worship to preach hatred.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House , Kaduna, the Sultan said preaching hatred and violence divide citizens, rather than strengthen unity as a people.
He said one of the numerous reasons why violence has continued to thrive in the region is impunity that has seen culprits go without punishment.
He said in view of the threats and the dimension the crises were taken, the traditional rulers from the region would back any action that is being and would be taken by the Northern States Governors forum.
“Let us collectively as one people say enough is enough,” the Sultan added.
In his speech, chairman of the Northern State Governors Forum ,NSGF, and Governor of Borno State Kashim Shettima said managing multiculturalism is a major challenge and indeed a litmus test for leadership, good governance and progress not just in Northern Nigeria but in the entire global society.
“Our backwardness in education, pervasive poverty and persistent insecurity are amongst the basis of this extraordinary meeting,” he said.
