Abdulsalami, Kukah, others in Kaduna over Southern Kaduna killings

As part of efforts to end the incessant attacks in the Southern part of Kaduna State, former Head of State, General Abubakar Abdulsalam (Retd), Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar,  Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, were in Kaduna, on Friday,  to join forces with the government and other stakeholders for lasting peace in Southern Kaduna.

Cardinal John Onaiyekan and other members of the National Peace Committee were also on the peace campaign visit.

Addressing journalists after a closed door meeting with Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, former Head of State, Gen.eral Abdulsalam said: “We are here due to the recent happenings in Southern Kaduna. And from here within the week, we are going to meet with other stakeholders, religious leaders, the chiefs in the area and also visit the site where these problems are and discuss with the people. After which we will now sit  down and see what we think should be done.

‘Then we will come back to the governor and also if necessary to the Federal Government. Considering that these clashes and killings are not only limited to Kaduna State, it is something that is engulfing the country.

‘‘So, we want to make sure that peace reigns in Nigeria, to make sure that people know that we are together, we have to live in peace with each other and we have what it is to give and take. We are reaching a situation in the country where human live doesn’

t mean anyting to people and this is wrong.”

Abdulsalam maintained that: “There is no religion on earth or anywhere that preaches violence. So this is why we are here today. We thank the governor and his team for recieving us. One of the points that the governor drew our attention to  is the way people take law into their hands and they go scot free. And this impunity must be checked. These are some of the issues we discussed”

The former Head of State added: “Everybody is aggrived in one way or the other, so what we beg on people is to be patient, try as much as to forgive and to be each other’s keeper. We must live together, we must find solution to the problems to sit down and talk to ourselves because there is no problem that cannot be solved when you are talking to each other” he said.

On his part, Bishop Kukah said:”i think the visit  is more of a solidarity  with the people of Kaduna State.  We are here to hear for ourselves what exactly is happening and what we can do with the hope that we can find a way forward based on the situation.

‘We are part of the delegation, I convened the peace committee and what we are doing now is is trying to bring about peace.  We did just hold the election we are looking at how we can achieve peace and stability.

Bishop Kukah added: “I think what the people of Kaduna State, including the government should be doing now is to look into how we can achieve peace and development and I think that is the reason we have democracy.

So whatever contributions anybody can make,  we need to make it people have expressed their voices.

What is going now is a very sad phase in our history, but I believe that we can get over it and we will get over it and come out much more stronger and committed to peace” he said.