The Kaduna state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has called on Nigerians to imbibe peaceful togetherness and religious tolerance for societal growth and development, as we strive to evolve a new nation.
The Institute made the call on the occasion of Citizens Summit on National Integration, Peace and Security it organized as its contribution to the growth and development of Nigeria and the people.
According to the stakeholders, the summit was organized to help find solutions to the weakened credibility of our social fabric which they regretted has bred disaffection among various components of our diverse society with manifest consequence in the prevailing threat to peace, security and national integration over the years.
The summit also provided interest groups and core stakeholders the platform for solution -based engagement towards an overall peace building, reconciliation and national cohesion.
Various speakers at the summit said no society can achieve any meaningful growth and development without peace and stressed the need for all to do all that it takes ensure that there is peace at all times.
In his welcome addressed, the State chapter Chairman, Haroun Malami said the submit basically was to achieve the objective of activation of national reconciliation, restoration of hope in relationships, promotion of mutual respect and love, rebuilding of peace and security process and relaying of foundation for Nigerian rebirth.
In their separate addresses at the summit, the NIPR National President, Alhaji Mukhtar Zubair and the Kaduna state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan both stressed on the misuse of national diversity which is supposed to be Nigeria’s richness.
They both posited that today’s discussions and activities are often associated with ethnicity based on geographical location, tribe, religion and region and loss of national identity because of over alienation to indigene/citizens dichotomy.
On his part, the State director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Alhaji Galadima Zubairu said the lack of documentation of our own history and happenings by ourselves; allowing and giving preferences to alien literatures that comes from myopic minds and short sighted personnel, which continually give a negative picture of our state mostly fuels crisis in our society, hence should be avoided.
Hajiya Khadija Hawaja Gambo, a Permanent Commissioner Kaduna State Peace commission who served as the Guest speaker at the summit said most Nigerians are very religious but only very few are godly.
She said, the elite conspiracy which is the result of the proliferation of arms in our neighborhoods, using religious colorations and spoiling the minds of the young people to inappropriately push for rights and other agitations in their favour is worrisome.
‘Unprofessional use of the media for ethnic profiling in reportage and misuse of the media especially among the northerns as a tool for propaganda!is also a challenge.
“Misuse of religious institution for exploitations and manipulations as some worship places are found guilty of preaching extremism and hate speech hence breeding people who are more godly than religious. Injustice especially around political and economic systems” she stressed.
The submit said all hands must be on deck to collaborate, synergies and cooperate for the benefit of this country.
Other important stakeholders who attended the submit included, Comrade Mohammed Mohammed- Academic Union of Senior Staff of Polytechnics, Alhaji Mustapha Jumare, the Co -Chair Civil society- Open Government Partnership Kaduna, Hajiya Rabi Saulawa -National President Jamiyyar Matan Arewa (JMA), National Youth Council Kaduna, CAN, Ethnic Groups leaders, Civil Society Organizations, the Media, the Academia, Students and Representatives of Trade unions and community based associations.
