It’s worrisome that religious places are used to preach hatred, violence —Sultan

THE Northern Traditional Rulers Council are worried and sad over the insecurity in the North, especially the happenings in Southern Kaduna, kidnapping, cattle rustling, the state of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North-East and other parts of the country.

These were the words of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Saad, in Kaduna, at the combined meeting of the 19 northern governors’ forum held in Kaduna, on Monday.

“We are more worried with the usage of places of religious worship to preach hatred, violence and other issues that tend to divide us rather than strengthen our unity as a people created by one God.

“We believe one of the numerous reasons violence continues to thrive in our midst is the impunity allowed to thrive in our midst. Nobody is punished for crimes committed.

“We are, therefore, strongly supporting more measures taken and to be taken by governors of northern states, especially that of Kaduna State.

“We must all strive to achieve lasting peace in the North in particular and the whole country at large,”the Sultan said.

Earlier, the chairman of the 19 northern governors’ forum and governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, said the meeting was first of its kind and was convened to collectively deliberate and find urgent, practical, but lasting solution to the myriad of socioeconomic and political problems besetting the region and which have direct bearing on the well-being and the welfare of the people.

“Let me place it on record that the decision to invite Your Royal Highnesses and other stakeholders to this crucial meeting was the collective decision of all the 19 governors under our forum and was borne out of the recognition of the fundamental, if not indispensable position and role the traditional institution occupies in the scheme of things in Nigeria, particularly in the Northern region.

Source: Tribune