2023 election: stakeholders, youths religious leaders, traditional rulers dialogue for peace in Southern Kaduna~details below

 various stakeholders, traditional rulers, youths, and religious leaders have come together to talk about the future of southern kaduna and to dialogue for peace.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that reported that, the interfaith peace dialogue was organised by Community of Sant’Egidio in partnership with Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna and that of Kafanchan.

The theme of the interfaith peace dailogue is, "Peace is the Future".

Mean while NAN also report that the 300 stakeholders and leaders who were present are three local government of Kaduna state which include-- Kajuru, Kachia and Jema’a local government area.

Mr Ezike, the National Coordinator, Community of Sant’Egidigo who also said "violence never solved problems, as such it was important for the people to continuosly work to build a Southern Kaduna without violence and killings."

"This is why we want to say once more, no more violence, no more killings."

According to Mr Ezike in what he described as tragic saying "that most people in the area regard violence as a means for resolving disputes".

He further noted that "Tragically for many of our people in Kaduna state, they believe that violence and killing is one possible means of resolving disputes".

"But today, we want to say that violence is the mother of poverty and has never solved any problem, rather it worsens the problems and create wounds,” Mr Ezike added.

He however, appealed to government officials, religious and traditional leaders, the youth and security personnel to reject the language of division and work together to create a new architecture of peace.

"All of us need to forgive and be forgiven. The injustices of the world and of history are not healed by hatred and revenge, but by dialogue and forgiveness," he said.

The Archbishop of Kaduna, Mathew Ndagoso, who also added that "peace must start from the grassroots".

Mr Ndagoso who was represented by Daniel Kyom, said in his 18 years as Bishop from Maiduguri to Kaduna, he had realised that the grassroots remained the foundation for peace.

"Anywhere i go, i meet with traditional, religious and political leaders at the grassroots, because i do believe that if you are looking for true peace, this is where it is, at the grassroots." he said.

Also, the Deputy Chief Imam, Kafanchan Central Mosque, Muhammad Kassim, called on religious leaders to educate their followers against negative preaching, practices and behaviour.

Mr Kassim said dialogue, peaceful coexistence, tolerance and understanding should be actively embraced by all adherents of Islam and Christianity.