From Julius B. Kezi, Kaduna
The people of Southern Kaduna have been called upon to change their rhetoric on the security challenges facing the area by collaborating with Government to overcome the challenges.
Deputy Governor, Kaduna State, Barnabas Bala Bantex, made the call at a town hall meeting on Wednesday at Manchock, Kaura Local Government Area of the State, which was convened by the Kaduna State Government to seek ways of checking the lingering crisis in Southern Kaduna, especially in Godogodo Chiefdom of Jema’a Local Government.
The deputy governor emphasized on the need for synergy between stake holders and Government, so that all forces and resources are channelled to curb the menace, rather than trading in the words, that would not be beneficial.
Bantex appealed to the people of the area to look for and bring back the Fulani that fled as a result of the crisis for reconciliation and re-integration. He admonished the people to always tread the path of peace in their dealings with one another and shun taking laws into their hands.
In his contribution, President, Southern Kaduna People Union (SOKAPU), Prof. Solomon Kaptain, lamented that Southern Kaduna was facing “existential threats”, which must be checked.
Kaptain and Barrister Mark Jacob, a former attorney and commissioner for justice in Kaduna State, said the primary role of government was to protect lives and property of people and therefore, when Government was failing in this regard, people have the constitutional right to defend themselves from annihilation from terrorists.
The SOKAPU president appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, well-meaning Nigerians and other people of good will, to rise to the call and responsibility of rescuing people of the area from activities of terrorism.
He also called on Government to provide camps and relief materials for displaced persons to cushion the effect of acute hardship they are being subjected to.
A cross section of participants, including members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly from Southern Kaduna, led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon John Kwaturu, traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders, called on the federal government to increase the presence of security operatives, especially the Army, in the area who should be given the power to fish out and dislodge the attackers.
They however blamed government for not punishing culprits of violent attacks in the past as those caught were set free, a development they said was responsible for the re-occurrence of the crisis.
Participants at the town hall meeting called for joint Military-Civilian patrol of the towns and villages as well as continuous dialogue between warring parties until lasting solutions are found.
Women representatives at the town hall meeting while calling on the youths to shun acts that could jeopardize peace, also urged on government to provide Jobs for the youths and stressed the need for parents to return to their divine role of proper upbringing of their children in the fear of God, love for Humanity, hard work, justice, tolerance and respect of constituted authority.
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