By Juliana Katung:
As the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections draw nearer, Women Interfaith Council has called for peaceful exercise in Kaduna state and the country in General.
The General Coordinator of the Council, Hajiya Amina Kazaure made the call at a news briefing on Monday in Kaduna.
Kazaure said” It is with a deep sense of concern and a sad tone that we are calling for this Press briefing.
“As Mothers of a Culture of Peace, we are using this medium to strongly advocate for peace in our dear State, due to the way and manner in which the politics of Kaduna State has turned into” she said.
According to her, the council has observed that there are pockets of tension in the political arena which no doubt is a serious threat, noting that Politics is not a do or die affair and should not be based on religious and ethnic lines.
“The most important thing is the value of humanity and human lives” she said.
The Council further called on Traditional leaders and stakeholders to embrace peace.
“Our respected religious and traditional leaders, stakeholders and all citizens of Kaduna State should wholeheartedly embrace the part of peace.
“Most especially in the coming days when we shall be going to the polls to elect those who will pilot the affairs of this great State in the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections” she said.
She further called on the Religious leaders to know that they play a very big role in building peace and social cohesion in any society, as they are at the core of the morals of the society which in turn determines the behaviors of the people they lead, their perception towards other religious ideologies, shapes their followers’ loyalties and the way they interact with others in the society.
“As such; religion can be both a negative and a positive determinant for peace in the society” Hajiya Kazaure noted.
She also advised the religious leaders to re direct their preaching/sermon to engender peace building and peaceful assembly in our state”.
“As Women of Faith Working Together as Mothers of a Culture of Peace, we are using this medium to join our voices with those of other concerned citizens by calling on every Nigerian/citizen to desist from acts that are capable of causing disunity particularly in Kaduna, and the country at large.
“When there is no peace in the land, women and children particularly bear the brunt of the untold hardships brought by violence,” she added.
She further called on the government, security agencies and the people to be at alert so as to ensure that no agitation(s) by any group infringe on the rights of other citizens or degenerate into violence.
“We condemn in totality the issuance of unguarded and inflammatory statements tending towards Hate and or dangerous Speeches which are capable of plunging the State into catastrophic circumstances”.
“As mothers, we share in the pains of those affected by the constant vices of killings; and reappraisal attacks.
The Council also appealed to the government and the security agents to further enhance their apparatus and personnel for effective security of lives and property in the state and also provide a safe space for citizens to exercise their civic right.
“We decry all forms of sectionalism being stirred up by certain segments of the political actors within the State to cause division and make everybody suspicious of the other person” Hajiya stated.
She enjoined all the people to remember that the corporate existence of the state is more important than the ambition and aspirations of any individual or group, saying that Kaduna State belongs to all of us, hence the need to make it exist, only in peace and harmony.
“We also call on our youths to desist from being used as political thugs and agents of provocative and abusive utterances both physically and through the use of the social media.
Political actors, she said should adhere to the ideals of the “PEACE ACCORD” pre and post elections by having confidence in the electoral body and simply not allowing any person or group spur us into violent conflicts after result declaration by INEC.
“As interfaith body, we will continue to partner with the government and other stakeholders in the area of peace building cum other development efforts” she said.
The Interfaith forum of Muslim and Christian Women’s Association a.k.a Women Interfaith Council (WIC) is a non – governmental, not for profit, and voluntary Organization established in 2010 in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
It serves as an umbrella body for women of faith groups in Kaduna state to work together for understanding and collaboration.