Peace groups urge restraint over Musa-El-Rufai crisis in Kaduna

A coalition of peacebuilding organisations in Kaduna has urged residents to exercise restraint and reject attempts to turn political disagreements into ethnic, religious or sectarian tensions.

The organisations, comprising the Interfaith Mediation Centre, Network of Peace Journalism, Rigar Yanchi, Community Peace Observers, Conflict Mitigation and Management Regional Council and Kaduna Peace Justice Forum, made the call in a joint statement issued on Monday.

The groups expressed concern over recent exchanges, media commentaries and public debates surrounding comments attributed to defence minister Christopher Musa, as well as historical grievances relating to the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

They acknowledged the importance of freedom of expression and robust democratic discourse but cautioned that high-level political exchanges could inadvertently deepen existing ethnic, religious and sectarian fault lines.

According to them, Kaduna has paid a heavy price for past divisions, making it necessary for stakeholders to channel their collective efforts towards healing, reconciliation and sustainable peace.

The organisations urged citizens across ethnic, religious and regional divides not to let political statements or disagreements among leaders degenerate into grassroots animosity.

They said residents’ shared aspirations for peace, security and economic prosperity should take precedence over political and personal differences.

The groups also called for constructive dialogue and the use of institutional mechanisms to address historical grievances, rather than exploiting social differences.

They urged community, youth and religious leaders to encourage restraint and guide public conversations towards mutual understanding.

The organisations acknowledged steps by Governor Uba Sani’s administration, as well as other organisations and individuals, to promote inclusion, bridge old divisions, and rebuild civic trust in the state.

They encouraged stakeholders to support community-level peacebuilding mechanisms, Early Warning and Early Response frameworks and interfaith initiatives aimed at strengthening social cohesion.

The groups further called on political actors, faith leaders, elder politicians and other public figures to recognise the influence of their words in a multi-ethnic society.

They urged leaders at all levels to promote unity, avoid incendiary rhetoric and focus on collaborative efforts towards development.

The organisations said Kaduna State belonged to all its indigenous populations, irrespective of their geographical, ethnic or religious backgrounds.

They therefore appealed to residents to remain united, saying the state’s strength lay in its diversity, resilience and capacity for peaceful coexistence.

They said political differences should not undermine the peace and stability of Kaduna and Nigeria.

(NAN)