… Reject Division and Uphold our Common Humanity
The Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) Kaduna, in collaboration with the Network of Peace Journalism and others have expressed deep concern over what they called the recent exchanges, media commentaries, and public debates surrounding comments made by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), and historical grievances involving the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Other members of the concerned Peace Group, are Rigar Yanchi, Community Peace Observers (CPOs), and the Kaduna Peace Justice Forum, Conflict Mitigation and Management Regional Council (CMMRC).
A statement jointly issued by the group in Kaduna on Monday, notes that while robust democratic discourse, freedom of expression, and the airing of historical and governance perspectives are essential components of a growing democracy, they are deeply mindful of how high-level political exchanges can inadvertently reawaken ethnic, religious, and sectarian fault lines within our fragile social fabric.
Kaduna State, they say, has paid an immeasurable price for past divisions; hence, their collective energy must now be unreservedly channeled toward healing, reconciliation, and sustainable peace.
“In light of these developments, we issue this urgent, unequivocal call to the good people of Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria, and the nation at large, reject division and uphold our common humanity:
“We strongly urge citizens across all ethnic, religious, and regional divides not to allow political statements or leadership disagreements to translate into grassroots animosity. Our shared aspirations for peace, security, and economic prosperity far outweigh any political or personal divisions.
“We call for constructive dialogue, true leadership and progressive citizenship, which demand that we address historical grievances through institutional frameworks, empathy, and constructive engagement rather than weaponizing differences.
“We call on community, youth, and religious leaders to preach restraint and guide public conversations toward mutual understanding.
“We acknowledge the deliberate steps being taken by the current administration under Governor Uba Sani amd notably organizations and individuals to foster inclusion, bridge old gaps, and restore civic trust across the state, we therefore encourage all stakeholders to rally behind community-level peacebuilding mechanisms, Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) frameworks, and interfaith initiatives that reinforce social cohesion.
“A call to our national and States leaders, as a call to remind political actors, faith leaders, elder statesmen, and public figures that words hold immense power in multi-ethnic societies of our dear state and nation.
“We urge leadership at all levels to model unity, tone down incendiary rhetoric, and focus on collaborative nation-building.
“Kaduna State is the home of all its indigenous populations, from the North to the South, the East to the West.
“Our strength has always lied in our rich diversity, resilience, and capacity to live together as one indivisible people.
“We refused to be divided by yesterday’s political battles. Together, let us forge ahead toward a stable, prosperous, and unified Kaduna State and a stronger Nigeria”, the statement concludes.
