Kaduna crisis: Iliya Nigeria’s Ambassador to Congo sues for peace

Nigeria’s Ambassador the Republic of Congo, Mrs Deborah Iliya, has called for peace in Kaduna state which recently witnessed upsurge of attacks and reprisal attacks after the kidnap and killing of a paramount ruler.

Iliya in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said she was joining the government and people of Kaduna State in extending heartfelt condolences to the family and people of Adara Chiefdom over the abduction and killing of the paramount traditional ruler, Dr Maiwada Galadima.

She regretted that the communal violence that occurred in Kasuwan Magani as well as other parts of the state claimed the lives of many residents.

The Kaduna state born ambassador said that the state has had more than enough destruction on lives, properties and hate in different dimensions – ethnical, religious and political.

“The abduction of the paramount traditional rule of Adara Chiefdom, Dr. Maiwada Galadima has no religious or ideological justification.

“The hasty and frequent recourse to bloodshed over disputes that could have been appeased peacefully without the loss of lives and property has become a common trend and is disheartening at the very least – my heart bleeds.

“In this day and age and at the level of dialogue that is possible between the differing communities – killings and attacks on innocent people, destruction of homes, markets and places of worship is totally unacceptable. Enough of this madness.

“At the front burner of the agenda of  President Muhammadu Buhari is  the provision of adequate security to the citizenry.

“This, Mr President has since demonstrated by equipping the various security institutions of our security agencies, so that they would always act more efficiently.

“His concerns speak in the event of the spirited and swift response of the State Gov. Mallam Nasir El’Rufai and the armed forces, the police for ensuring that peace, law and order were restored to the state.’’

She said that the summon of an emergency meeting of the Heads of the Security Agencies in Kaduna State and the state Council of Chiefs to discuss way forward on the issues at hand, was commendable.

According to her, there can never be any ideological justification for crimes against groups of innocent human beings, and it is one of the cardinal duties of all Muslims and Christians to condemn such outrages wherever and by whomever they are committed.

“If your religion requires you to hate someone, you need a new religion.

“ Hatred paralyses, confuses and darkens life. We must choose to stick with love because “hate” is too much of a burden to bear.

“As a Woman, who believes that life is always sacrosanct and who seeks peace at all times, I plead to those on social media platforms to stop the hate and fake speech communications that misguide, promote violence, put suspicion and fear among the people of Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State and the country in general.

“ It is our collective responsibility to synergise with good leaders in the effort to fixing our dream Nigeria. As a representative of the people, I call upon our youths to shun violence.

“Do not offer to waste your lives to violence -rather, activate your entrepreneurial spirit, actively participate in the political process of Kaduna State and Nigeria – using democratic and nonviolent means and your future is assured. Know however, that no amount of money on earth is worth your life – so do not waste it to violence.’’

The ambassador said it was  clear that the past was a central dimension of reconciliation in Kaduna but reconciliation was essentially about the future–moving from a divided past towards a shared future for all citizens in Kaduna State irrespective of their religious, gender, tribal and cultural affiliations.

According to her, there is a need to move beyond peace rhetoric, through a progressive, step-by-step process towards a political settlement which builds stability, confidence and legitimacy over time.

“The short-term objective should be a reduction in violence while the long-term objective should be to achieve a more inclusive peace process that is representative of, and endorsed by, Kaduna State and the country in general.

“So let us turn, each of us to the wisdom in our religions and traditions and in our communities, bringing together everything we know and everything our religious leaders and fore-parents have ever known about mediation, problem solving and peace-making.

“ It is in this sense that I believe all religions have essentially the same teaching that is of peace. Within this context, there are ways to live and respond, in which no one is the loser.

“As we move toward restraint, let us all enter into long, deep, contemplative consideration of the current dilemmas that confront us.

“It is certain that we all want the same thing– that Southern Kaduna, Kaduna and Nigeria enjoy peace – that our children will live; that the lives of our loved ones will not end in killings and genocide,’’ she said.