The Yoruba community of Share and the Nupe people of Tsaragi in Kwara State have been engaged ethnic clash and various dangerous episodes of violence that have defied solution for about 40 years. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports that the two communities met on a neutral ground in Ibadan, Oyo State, last week to explore how peace can return to their communities in a four-day community dialogue sponsored by Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
For the Yoruba people of Share in Ifelodun Local Government area and the Nupe people of Tsaragi in Edu local government area, both in Kwara state, carnage, violence and various cases of communal conflict is part of life. Indeed, to those under 40 years of age, it had always been so and the Share/Tsaragi communal conflicts have been said to be unprecedented in the history of the state.
The two communities located in the northern zone of the state have been in existence for centuries and share common social amenities; light, water, hospitals and the same physical features. As a result, they have no distinct boundaries and demarcations aside the difference in native language. And because it doesn’t take more than a minute to cross from one side to the other, there is a huge social integration and both sides now speak each others’ language fluently, leading to more blurring of lines among the communities.
In spite of this integration, the violence between these two communities is very lethal; over boundaries and issues of disputed tenancy and landlord as both communities now claim ownership of the land. Over a period of 40 years, this has led to a number of violent clashes; December 3, 1978, 2000, November 2-3, 2008 (which so far is termed the bloodiest), Dec 19, 2015 and recently, August 4, 2016 amongst many unrecorded conflicts. To support their cause, both communities invited outside forces; Share brought in the Odua Peoples’ Congress and called the attention of Yoruba’s in the south while Tsaragi involved the Nupe hunters and Arewa to draw the attention of Hausa’s in the North.
Today, tribal sentiments, mutual suspicion, deep hatred and animosity run deep, heating up the polity and stalling all peace moves and the communities have separate schools, markets and worship centres while still living together. But this had not been the case in the past; people who are in their fifties recall a community that cohabits in love with no segregation or suspicion.
As a result of the lingering crisis and the continuous loss of lives, properties and diminishing socio-economic activities in the two communities, peace experts over time after assessing the situation advocates that there is a need to create a forum for the two communities to sit under the same roof to relate better on heated issues that have separating them and understand each other and join hands to prevent further violence.
It is against this background that the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), found a neutral and peaceful environment to convene community leaders including elders, elites, women, youth and associations, to renew their relationship, abandon their painful past, overcome grief, mutual distrust and enhance sense of security.
The four day programme which had the state governor, police commissioner and traditional heads of the two communities at the Kakanfo Inn was an avenue for positive peace to eradicate further violence and war, repair damaged relationships and expose community representatives to fundamentals of conflict management, peace building and effective use of mediation while giving them a chance to interact about things that matter to them including tolerance and peaceful coexistence in a relaxed environment.
The Director General of IPCR, Professor Osita O. Osita, represented by the director of development and democracy studies, Barrister Gabriel Jiya, stated that the meeting is predicated on findings of the strategic conflict assessment of Nigeria and its update which identified the Share-Tsaragi conflict as part of the conflicts that has led to loss of lives and properties, adding that IPCR believes that peace is possible and achievable by constant dialogue
The peace and development adviser for UNDP, Dr Zeblun Takwa, on his part said violence is a serious obstacle to development and cannot be justified for whatever reason, adding that, ‘our meeting here today is very significant and I believe it will spur us to make a commitment, embrace peace and begin to build our community.”
The Deputy Director, Research in IPCR, Emmanuel Mamman, stated that the communities have an inter-ethnic crisis with underlying fraternal feelings of deep animosity, adding that there is a need for conflict prevention and peace management structures to be put in place to prevent periodic violence.
Dr Hannatu Ibrahim, the head women mentor for peace stated that people have allowed personal interest and politics to cause divisions. “God created us to live together in peace and control the earth. As a broadcaster with Radio Nigeria, we go to your community and there was peace and love, we didn’t know the difference. So what caused this? Our leaders are causing division for selfish interest and love for position and innocents are dying. It is time to put a stop to this,” she said.
The Olupako of Share, Alhaji Abubakar Garba, represented by the Anilaloye of Share, Chief Dotun Phillips, stated that the community had lived as one for years immemorial without rancor, adding that, “we all know that the world is governed by two powers; God and Satan. Satan visited us in Share and Tsaragi and brought conflict, now God in his infinite power has put in place a process to restore peace and we are thankful. I believe this gathering will resolve conflicts within our community and forever and we will live in peace till eternity.”
Also speaking, the Ndakpotwa, Akhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Kpotwa represented by the Sarkin Malami of Tsaragi, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Ndako, said there must be peace at all cost, adding that, “the founders of the two communities loved themselves and choose to live together, we can’t at this point drive each other away, nobody will leave so we should understand this and stay together in love. Our youths should live in love. I pray after this, there will be lasting peace.”
The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Leke Ogungbe, stated that until people get emotional, the required lasting peace may be elusive. “The governor is a son of both communities, born to a particular family in Share but grew up knowing both communities as one. And he has stated that no one will move an inch for the other, God has created you to live together in that environment and so shall it remain.
“The question I ask is, where is Share, where is Tsaragi? I am from Kwara south and since 1974 that I have been visiting to see the governor, I’m yet to know the difference. If we don’t allow peace, there will be no development,” he stated.
The Kwara Commissioner of Police represented by DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, observed that the two traditional rulers in the community are peace lovers, adding that there is no reason not to live in peace as few people can tell the difference between the two communities.
and then