|
Kaduna Endorses Social Charter
for Peace
Newsdiaryonline Sat Oct
15,2011
Not less than 150
Community Leaders made up of local government officials,
traditional rulers, religious institutions, parliamentarians,
community-based organizations, students, youths and women groups
came together on Tuesday October 11 to sign a Social Charter
with a pledge to work collectively for the peace and development
of Kaduna state.
Led by the Kaduna North
and South Local Government Administrators, the Community
Dialogue Session held at the Council Chamber of the Kaduna North
Local Government Area (LGA) was the climax of a two-week program
involving stakeholders from across the state under the
Peace-building and Community Dialogue Program (CDP), which is
primarily aimed at addressing the challenges faced by
communities as a result of the recent post-election violence in
the country and to establish an inclusive community structure
that will promote cooperation, collaboration, mutual support and
focus on joint solution to common problems.
The CDP is a project of
the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) with the
support of the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International
Development (DFID) which commenced in late September as a pilot
program in select four LGAs in Kaduna State namely Kaduna,
Zaria, Jema’a and Zagon Kataf. The Programme Orientation Meeting
(POM) with over 120 representatives of Community Development
Associations (CDAs) from the pilot LGAs came together to learn,
listen and share common goals for enduring peace and development
in the state.
An important feature of
the program was the Community Action Plan (CAP) which enables
each target community to collectively identify community needs,
prioritize projects to solving the problems as well as
mobilizing funds for project execution. It is a new paradigm
shift in peace-building which focuses on harnessing communities
energies into problem solving and mutual dependence.
Earlier, the training
and capacity building on peace-building session witnessed the
presence of the state government executives, the leadership of
the State Assembly, first class traditional rulers from the
across the state and other major stakeholders. The event which
was declared open by the Executive Governor of the State, His
Excellency, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, represented by the
Deputy Governor, Dr. Ramalan Yero with a commitment not only to
support the program but to continue the program with the
facilitators as part of government’s policy to sustainable peace
and development in the state. The governor promised to provide
the avenue for a peaceful atmosphere that will guarantee safety
of lives and property, as well as give priority to the yearnings
of the people of the state.
Other dignitaries at the
event included the former Governor of the state, Senator Ahmed
Mohammed Makarfi, who delivered a goodwill message. In his
remarks, Senator Makarfi enlightened the audience about the root
of the crises witnessed
in Kaduna state long before the election crisis. He advocated
the need to be proactive and sensitive to the needs, culture and
traditions of the people as these have been the greater part of
agitation in the state and other parts of the country.
In his welcome address,
the Director General of IPCR, Dr. Joseph H.P. Golwa expressed
joy and appreciation to the government and people of Kaduna
state for their warm reception of the facilitating team and the
project in general. He maintained that the gesture is an
indication that everyone in Kaduna state desire peace and mutual
collaboration. The Director General of the National Orientation
Agency (NOA), Alhaji Idi Farouk, MFR in his goodwill message
thanked the facilitators of the program for identifying with NOA
and for choosing Kaduna state as a pilot for the project. Kaduna
he said remain the centre of resource for every northerners and
indeed Nigerians every where. He enjoys the participants to do
all within their reach to ensure the good old days where the
state serve as a reference point for others in the areas of
ethic and religious tolerance are brought back to the state.
Among the royal father
in attendance include the Emir of Zazzau who was represented by
the District Head of Doka and Bunu Zazzau, Alh. Bala Tijjani,
His Royal Highness, Alh. Muhammadu Isa Muhammadu, Emir of
Kafanchan and His Royal Highness, Brig Gen. Garba Abubakar
Mohammed rtd, the Emir of Lere among others.
According to a statement
by Dr. Lanre AdebayoProject Consultant the Kaduna Community
Dialogue Session is the first in the series with Zaria, Jema’a
and Zagon Kataf taking their turn in the following week. Already
the three LGAs have mobilized major stakeholders from each LGAs
in preparation for the reception and to formally endorse the
Social Charter. The Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness Alh. Dr.
Shehu Idris hosted the Zaria Community Network in his palace
under the chairmanship of Wazirin Zazzau and over 20 District
Heads in attendance. The Jema’a and Zagon Kataf groups will be
hosted in the coming days at the local government secretariats
in the various locations.
Related
CPC Loses as Tribunal Upholds
Yakowa’s Election
|
