Promoting Peace: Fulani Herdsmen Attend Church Service In Kaduna

A team of Fulani men under the umbrella body of Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) on Sunday attended Sunday worship with Christian brethren at the Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry, Sabon Tasha in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria.

This effort according to the leader of the delegation, who is also the Assistant National Secretary of MACBAN, Ibrahim Abdullahi, was geared towards encouraging and strengthening peaceful coexistence and tolerance in the state.

Abdullahi noted that, to achieve peace, there is need for them to sit with all stakeholders in order to come up with a lasting solution that can help government to get a lasting solution to crisis in the state especially in Southern Kaduna.

He added that, “We must together stand as one brothers and sisters in the region irrespective of our religious, cultural and ethnicities differences. We must bring to an end the continuous killing of innocent citizens, and the destruction of properties worth millions which is setting our region backward day-by-day.”

“we truly visited the church today so as to mixed and interact with our brothers and Sisters of southern Kaduna to let them know that the problem of insecurity that is affecting the region is also affecting the Nomad’s children and their future; therefore, everyone must contribute his/her own quota in order to overcome the that challenges,” he said.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of MACBAN, Haruna Usman, expressed happiness over the increase peace in the state, adding that, there is the need for government at all levels to redouble their effort towards restoring absolute peace in southern Kaduna.

While calling on government to create more interfaith dialogue between the two major religions in the country to promote peace and unity among all, Usman however called on Nigerians not to relent in praying for the peace of the region and country as a whole.

Past Yohaba Buru

In his remarks, the general overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry, Pastor Yohanna Buru thanked the Fulani group for their effort in promoting peace and dialogue, saying, their coming to church does not make them Christian, but a part of peace mission in inter-faith activities.

He however called on both Muslims and Christians to unite and fight their common enemies who are benefitting from the crisis and continue to pray for God’s intervention

It’s Time For Washington To Strengthen Ties With Egypt

By Joel C. Rosenberg

As the Trump administration develops plans to confront Iran, destroy Islamic State (ISIS) and strengthen US-Israel relations, it’s critical that it also rebuild America’s ties with Egypt, the leader of Sunni Arab world.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi was often disrespected if not ignored by president Barack Obama. This serious mistake should be promptly corrected.

The American secretaries of state and defense should visit Cairo immediately to map out ways to work together. President Donald Trump should then invite the Egyptian leader to visit him in Washington soon, following up on successful recent meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jordan’s King Abdullah.

Sisi came to power amid the most catastrophic meltdown of Egypt’s social, economic and political order in living memory. He has made mistakes. But he’s making progress, and he needs help.

Here are six big things the Egyptian leader is doing right:

First, he’s signaling he wants a dramatically improved relationship with the US. Sisi met privately with then-candidate Trump last September during the opening of the UN General Assembly in New York. He immediately called Trump after the election to congratulate him, and has spoken to him several times since. “Egypt hopes Trump’s presidency will breathe a new spirit into US-Egyptian relations,” Sisi made clear in a written statement. The White House should reciprocate quickly.

Second, he has courageously called for what amounts to a Muslim “Reformation.”

On January 1, 2015, Sisi addressed scholars and clerics at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the Harvard of Sunni Islam, challenging them to reform Islam and rescue it from the radicals.

“We are in need of a religious revolution.

You, imams, are responsible before Allah. The entire world is waiting for your next move…. I am saying these words here at Al-Azhar, before this assembly of scholars and ulema [learned men]. Allah Almighty be witness to your truth on Judgment Day concerning that which I’m talking about now.”

This stands as one of the most impressive speeches by a moderate Muslim leader in recent memory. By working closely with Sisi (and Jordan’s king), Trump can demonstrate that when he rightly denounces Radical Islam he’s not suggesting that he’s going to war with the religion of Islam.

Third, he’s not just talk – he’s working hard to protect Egypt from radical Islamist jihadists. In the summer of 2013, after 22 million Egyptians signed a petition to remove the Muslim Brotherhood from power, Sisi and the Egyptian military brought down the Brotherhood regime that was strangling Egypt and was trying to impose Sharia law. They specifically removed Mohammed Morsi from the presidency. It was Morsi, after all, who had famously declared, “The Koran is our constitution, the Prophet is our leader, jihad is our path and death in the name of Allah is our goal.” Since then, Sisi has directed his military to crush jihadists operating in the Sinai.

Fourth, he’s not only maintaining Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel but developing a close working relationship with Israeli leaders. Under Morsi, there was a real risk that Egypt would abrogate her 1979 peace treaty with Israel. But relations between the two countries have warmed considerably under Sisi. During the Obama years, several members of Congress told me of meetings they had in Cairo in which the Egyptian leader candidly shared that he had a better working relationship with Netanyahu than with Obama. Security ties between Cairo and Jerusalem are growing ever closer, especially in terms of battling terrorists in Sinai. And there are whispers Sisi is looking for the right moment to invite Israel’s premier to Cairo.

Fifth, he’s building closer ties with the Christian community. In 2014, Sisi visited Pope Francis in Rome. In 2015, for the first time that anyone could remember, Egypt’s president publicly celebrated Christmas with Coptic Christian leaders, then did so again in 2016. He’s helping restore dozens of Coptic churches damaged or destroyed by terrorists. Egypt’s parliament has approved measures to make it easier for churches to be built and renovated. Christian leaders in Egypt say they feel Sisi is sincerely working to protect and assist Christians, though clearly much more progress must be made, as was made evident in December when jihadists bombed a historic Coptic church in Cairo, killing 29 and wounding dozens more.

Sixth, he’s building close ties with the Jewish community. Unlike any of his predecessors, the Egyptian leader has been engaged in a truly extraordinary effort to build warm and close ties to the American Jewish community, and for this he deserves enormous credit. In early 2016, Sisi welcomed a delegation of 36 American Jewish leaders to Cairo.

He personally met with representatives from the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations for more than two hours, discussing his view of the region and answering their questions.

In September 2016, the Egyptian leader met privately with Jewish leaders in New York. In December 2016, Sisi met with yet another Jewish delegation to Cairo, this time from the American Jewish Congress. Then, just last week, Sisi met with another delegation of Jewish leaders in Cairo. During the hour-anda- half meeting, the president discussed his efforts to fight terrorism, improve Egypt’s economy and advance peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Sisi said the peace process was a top priority for him.

Yes, there are human rights violations in Egypt, economic challenges and a myriad of other serious issues Sisi must address.

One analyst of the Egyptian political scene writing in Foreign Policy magazine has noted that “the Egyptian government’s theme is ‘safe before perfect,’ meaning it will try to improve on human rights but the top priority is ensuring day-to-day safety on the streets and freedom from terrorism.”

The Trump-Pence administration – along with Christian and Jewish leaders – should press Egypt’s leaders to make more progress, especially on human rights. At the same time, we should thank Sisi for what he has done right while encouraging him to move further in the right direction.

The West needs a stable Egypt as a friend and an ally, now more than ever.

The author is a US-Israeli dual citizen and former aide to US and Israeli leaders. A New York Times best-selling novelist, he has sold more than three million books. His new thriller, Without Warning, is about a series of Islamic State attacks inside the American homeland. It releases on March 14.

Curled from Jerusalem Post

Southern Kaduna crisis: Violence, enmity, hate cannot solve crisis-Osinbajo

By Amos Tauna

Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Friday said violence, enmity and hate cannot solve Southern Kaduna problem.

He said the process of peace building must commence to gradually phase out the crisis.

Addressing stakeholders from Southern Kaduna during a meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Osinbajo said the security Chiefs and local government chairmen had briefed him about the crisis in Southern Kaduna.

While noting that the crisis cannot end in a hurry, because there was hate and anger, he said, “We must therefore strive to put an end to this, otherwise it will consume everybody.”

Osinbajo, however, promised to convene meetings with representatives of CAN, JNI, MACBAN and other stakeholders separately.

He said a quick fix solution would not be apt as the crisis had a long history which he was studying through previous reports of commissions of inquiry, briefing from security agencies and other reports.

“I will like to begin a discussion on the very terrible crisis that has gone on for a while in Southern Kaduna. A lot of bloodletting have taken place in Southern Kaduna in the past few weeks.

“I want to express my sincere condolence to all of those who have lost families and friends and have been traumatized by the terrible things that have been going on in the area in the past few months.

“But I must say there’s no question whatsoever that violence would never stop any of the problems we are experiencing today, there’s no way we will resolve it that way.

“On this matter, I have read documents; as a matter of fact, I have tried very hard to study the crisis in Southern Kaduna, personally. I have read quite a few documents including reports of past crisis; recently I have taken briefings from the service chiefs a couple of days ago on what is going on and since I got in today, I am also taking briefing from some of the senior officials of the armed forces and state security.

“I have talked to his Excellency the governor, that what I would like to achieve is not a quick fix but I want us to begin a process and I want to be a part of that process that will listen to each group separately and then get everyone together.”

Governor El-Rufai in his opening remarks swore to God that his administration would fish out and prosecute those who had participated in the killings or instigated killings in Kaduna State in the last 37 years.

He said that his government had identified bringing culprits to book, deployment of security and commencement of peace building efforts as panacea to permanently ending the Southern Kaduna crisis.

El-Rufai commended the Acting President for his usual assistance to the state government in its efforts to establish military formations in the troubled zone and securing the state at large.

Meanwhile stakeholders who spoke at the meeting, like the CAN Chairman Bishop George Dodo, representative of the JNI, Alhaji Sanusi Maikudi and National Assistant Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Ibrahim Abdullahi traced the crisis to 2011 post-election violence and suggested ways out.

CAN chairman, Rev. George Dodo thanked the Acting President and the state governor for their intervention in finding lasting peace in Southern Kaduna and prayed that those behind the violence would be apprehended and brought to book.

Representative of JNI in Kaduna State, Alhaji Sanusi Maikudi blamed the crisis on the inability of the previous government to fish out those behind the crisis and failure to act on the recommendations of commissions of inquiry.

Youth Restiveness/Unemployment: Nigeria Committed To Creating More Jobs

Babachir David Lawal

The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to creating more job opportunities to reduce youth restiveness in the society.

Lawal stated this during a special service in Kaduna State (North-west Nigeria) organized by the Kaduna Baptist Conference, aimed at seeking divine Intervention on the Security and Economy challenges faced in the country.

According to him, poverty and unemployment are some of the causes of insecurity in the country, as such there is need for government to work hard to address those challenges.

While calling on the youths to support all government programs for sustainable development, he urged them to shun all criminal activities and embrace the various empowerment programs of the Federal Government aimed at empowering them.

On unity of the country, he tasked leadership of the Church in Nigeria to engage in preaching the gospel of love and peace that will unite the country rather than preaching hatred which will divide the country, adding that, Nigerians should continue to pray for the present administration, as they are doing all within its power to fight corruption and restore the lost glory of the country.

He further enjoined citizens of Kaduna state and Nigeria as a whole to work towards peaceful co-existence, saying government is willing to develop the country but development can only take place under peaceful atmosphere.

Earlier, the President of the Kaduna Baptist Conference, David Dagah, said it has become necessary for the church to stand in the gap and pray for the peace, unity and development of the country.

Media Development Organization Challenged On Peace Reporting Trainings

Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF), a Media developmental organization, has been urged to direct its training on peace Journalism so as to encourage reporting on issues that unites rather than divide the nation.

The Kaduna Controller of News and Current Affairs Department of Desmin Independent Television (DITV), Shuibu Gimi gave the advice on Thursday when a team from AMDF paid the organization an advocacy visit in Kaduna state, North-west Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria is beginning to be divided along religious and ethnic lines, as such the media could be use to drive issues on peace and the need for unity, stressing that it could be done when Journalists are train to report on that aspect.

He however lauded AMDF’s programs especially in encouraging developmental Journalism saying, Journalism is more than reporting government activities but reporting from the other way.

In her remarks AMDF Coordinator, Sekyen Dadik, who led the delegation said one of AMDF’s aim is to promotes professional excellences in media and journalism through capacity building for Journalists, adding that, her organization has trained over 100 Journalists in Kaduna in different programs such as fundamentals of journalism, internship, media ethics and mentoring, human rights reporting and online journalism among others.

She explained that AMDF focuses on developmental, investigative reporting as well as data driven journalism, stressing that the media serves as a platform that gives voice to the voiceless in the society.

She said, “We are out to promote developmental journalism; we realized that it a platform that provides the leverage for media organization to reach out to communities, because as a media we are the voice of the community and voice of the people.

“We encourage journalist to go into communities and see issues for themselves as there are many communities underserved in terms of water, health facilities and so many others,” she pointed out.

Dadik noted that AMDF has also motivated a group of investigative reporters who were drawn from different medium and have been involved in developmental reporting that has brought interventions to some communities in the state; positing that, such kind of reports attracts award and recognition to Journalists and media organizations.

Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) is a nonprofit, nonpolitical organisation that supports journalists, media development and promotes freedom of the press. It activities includes; Training, advocacy, research, coordination and information sharing.

Traditional And Religious Leaders Critical To Peace Building Process In Northern Nigeria — UN Studies

By Iyakale Yakubu
Jos (Nigeria) — A study by United Nations (UN) has shown that traditional and religious leaders play effective role in resolving conflicts in northern Nigeria

Conducted in Plateau State, north central nigeria, the study reveal that traditional and religious leaders were key peace drivers that ensured resolution of the crises experienced in Plateau state between 2001 to 2014.

UN Lead Consultant, Dr Abdul Hussaini, stated this in Jos, at a meeting to validate Review of the Plateau State Peace Architecture.

He said respondents in the study drawn from three local government areas in the three senatorial zones of the State said, the traditional and religious leaders were more reliable in their responses even before the Nigerian Police.

“The responses were based on the antecedents for effective response as key players in the peace process in Plateau,” he said.

Hussaini said, the study revealed that women were not perceived as prominent key stakeholder in the peace building process, but were influential in mobilizing women for peace building talks.

“The study also showed that women were more involved in the peace process at the community peace committees, interreligious peace council and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) committees,“ he said.

He noted that the traditional and religious institutions who were rated most reliable in effective response were patriarchal in nature, thus the low percentage of women in the institutions to be drivers of the peace process.

The Consultant expressed worry that despite findings indicating low engagement of women in peace processes, the society has rated the State Security Architecture of the Plateau as inclusive.

He said that the study recommended that a critical mass of women peace building leadership should be reinforced where women would demand for the full implementation for the affirmative action for women representation in key positions in government at all levels.

In a remark, Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs Rufina Gurumyen, said the State was committed to raising the quality of women in the peace building process despite their economic challenges.

Represented by Director Planning and Research in the Ministry, Retshik Tireng, the Commissioner said the critical perusal of document would ensure it was instrumental in bridging the wide vacuum of the absence of women in the peace building process of the State.

Executive Director for Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Movement (JPRM), a community based organisation, Justina Ngwobia said, women should be engaged especially at the grassroots levels in peace and security talks.

She cautioned women not to be unruly in their desire to be engaged in the peace process, but be partners in progress with the men for the actualisation of the desire.

Southern Kaduna Attacks: Foundation Takes Peace Campaign To Affected Areas

Kaduna (Nigeria) — In an attempt to further build trust and enhance peaceful coexistence between Fulani herdsmen and people of Godogodo in Jama’a and Sanga Local Government Areas of Kaduna state in North-western Nigeria, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), on Tuesday took its campaign message of “One Family Under God” to residents of the areas.

Addressing representatives of the various groups at the Palace of Etum Numana in Gwantu, the Northern Co-coordinators of GPFN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab and Sheikh Halliru Abdullahi Maraya consoled with the chiefdom and those that lost their loved ones during the unfortunate crisis in the area.

A statement by GPFN Media and Communications Officer Richard Pius Garba, explained that the purpose of the visit was to assist in building bridges of peace and also remind the people that they are members of one family in the eyes of God, hence, the need to imbibe brotherly love and be tolerant of one another.

According to the Co-coordinators, since the Holy Bible and Quran teach that Adam and Eve are the first human creatures on earth, it therefore means that we all come from one ancestral parent irrespective of our religious differences.

They implore the people to always seek for ways of dialogue in resolving issues rather than taking the laws into their hands, the consequences of which will be detrimental to societal growth.

Responding at his palace in Gwantu, the Etum Numana II, Mallam Gambo Makama, commended GPFN for championing the cause of peaceful coexistence through its “One Family Under God” Campaign, noting that peace remains the yardstick for any societal growth.

He pointed out that, peace is gradually returning to the area and advice the youth in the area to shun all evil acts, be more vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies.

Also commenting when the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria team visited his palace in Godogodo, the Chief of the area, Iliya Ajiya Antang opined that what has happened in the community was strange and unfortunate, considering the peaceful nature of the area. He commended the foresight of the Foundation for coming to identify with them and also encourage the people to be their brother’s keepers.

Residents of the area including the Interim management committee chairman of Sanga Local government area, Mr. Nuhu Audu Ajiyana stressed that peace remains a necessity and worth embracing by all and pledged to join hands towards restoring lasting peace in their areas.

Nigerian Church Anniversary: Muslim Woman Donates To Church Choir, Others

Muslim women, youths and scholars in Kaduna city, northern Nigeria, on Sunday joined other Christians from neighbouring states to worship in a Church service aimed at promoting peaceful co-existence, religious tolerance, and better understanding.

The Church, Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry opened its door to non Christians to observe its 8th Anniversary – the Church has a tradition of inviting these people to worship together.

The General Overseer of the Church, Pastor Yohanna Buru who expressed gratitude to the invited guests called on all worshippers around the world to learn to live in peace with one another.

Buru said “Muslims are not our enemies, rather they are our best friends, because we all worship one God and we all believe in life after death.”

He then prayed for love, forgiveness, dialogue and peace to reign among Nigerians.

A peace Ambassador, Ramatu Tijjani, who also attended the worship service said, “as the church celebrate its 8th year anniversary, I decided to donate gifts to the best Chorister, The Band, children Choir and Intercessory women of the Ministry, so as to strengthen love, unity… encourage togetherness, irrespective of faith Organisation; to boost mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue between the followers of the two different faiths.

“Both of us worship one God and we are from one family “Adam and Eve”, she said.

She added that earlier in February during the international inter-faith week and Harmony “I donated 50 bibles to the church with a view to strengthen religious tolerance and mutual understanding in the state and the country at large.

Ramatu who stressed that both religion [Christianity and Islam] preach peace, harmony, forgiveness and tolerance, points out the need to understand each another to make Nigeria great.

She then called for the creation of Institutes of Comparative Studies in the country so as to end all forms of ethno-religious, political crisis in the country, explaining that comparative religious study is the branch of the study of religions that is concerned with the systematic comparison of the doctrines and practices of the world’s religions.

She concluded her speech by saying that, there are more than 6,000 religions in the world, most of which are very different from the literate Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), that many people think of when they hear the word “religion.”

Tolerance: Kaduna Explains Why It Introduces Boarding Schools

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – The Kaduna state government has revealed that its introduction of state boarding schools was to encourage religious tolerance and promote peaceful coexistence among the younger generation, saying, their interactions at a tender level would help them to appreciate one another as they grow up.

Director General of the Kaduna state interfaith Namadi Musa, made this known during a two day train the trainer capacity building workshop on ‘One Family under God Campaign’ program organized by the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN) in Kaduna, North-west Nigeria.

According to him, the Kaduna state government in its love for strengthening religious tolerance also created the Bureau interfaith which is the first in Nigeria for Christian and Muslim affairs under one leadership. He explained that, “it essence was to work as one and put those differences aside because we are all one family under God.”

“We of the fifties have seen that probably one of the problems we are having is the de-boarding of our schools which our children do not interact at their tender level. So the governor in his wisdom tries to create boarding schools which would take a child from Zongon Kataf to Zaria and vice versa.

“What the government is trying to do is to have a school that each local government is represented; For instance, there will be a school in Zaria that will constitute students from the 23 Local Government Areas and also like that in Kafanchan. We believed that when children are brought up together within an environment, as they grow up, those differences will give way because they have grown up together, slept in the same room, ate in the same dining hall, and appeared in the same hall to take their bathe. That would promote the spirit of togetherness,” he explained.

While urging the Foundation to partner with government in attaining peace in the entire state, he tasked the participants to be ambassador of peace.

Country Director of GPFN John Okoh, in a remark called on Nigerians to see themselves as brothers and a family created by one God, saying, “it is wise for us to live together as brothers or perish as fools”.

He also urged participants to work in their various communities to achieve what the organization is pursuing. “It is our hope that after this training, we will begin to see positive change in your communities. GPFN does not bring solution in our communities but work to facilitate the working relation among people because we are always divided along the line of religion, polities; so we hope that the message of ‘One family under God,’ as we live with it will bring us a lot of change.”

Earlier in his opening remarks, Northern Co-coordinator of GPFN John Joseph Hayab, noted that the essence of the workshop was to train the trainers on peace building where they are expected to do a step-down in their communities afterward.

He said, “Kaduna is the pilot state and this is the second statewide capacity building program. The first was conducted for people drawn from communities in Jaba, Zongo Kataf, Chikun, Igabi, Soba and Kaubau LGAs. This time around we have scale up the program and participants are from Ikara, Birnin Gwari, Kagarko, Kachia, Malali, and Markarfi.

Similarly, GPFN Northern Co-cordinator, Haliru Maraya while making a remark commended the Kaduna state government for reenactment of boarding schools which he said will further enhance unity among citizens.

Nigeria: Champion The Cause Of Tolerance, Foundation Tasks Opinion, Religious Leaders

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (a Non-Governmental Organization), has called on opinion and religious leaders to champion the cause of tolerance, respect and understanding amongst their faithful, towards achieving a peaceful society.

Commemorating the 2016 International day of Peace, a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday by the Northern Coordinators of the Foundation, Rev. John Joseph Hayab and Sheikh Halliru Maraya noted that, this year’s theme, ‘The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace” was timely, considering the importance of Peace to societal growth and development.

They called on Nigerians to build bridges of peace amongst the diverse ethnic and religious differences in the country.

The statement pointed out that, “it is high time for Nigerians and mankind to put aside their differences and to realize that, they are all created by God and are ancestrally descendants of Adam and Eve which make them members of One Family under God.”

The statement which was signed by the Foundation’s Media and Communications Officer, Richard Pius Garba, advised Government at all levels to continue to give priority to the security of lives and properties of Nigerians.

The International Day of Peace is observed around the world on every 21^st September to strengthen the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and also among people.