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.

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.

Group Sensitizes Over 100 Residents Of Kaduna On Importance Of Peace

Kaduna (Nigeria) – The Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN) in its efforts at championing the cause of ‘One Family under God’ and promoting peaceful living among residents of Kaduna state in North-western Nigeria has sensitized over 100 persons in communities of Makarfi and Ikara Local government Areas of the State on the importance of peaceful coexistence.

Speaking at the sensitization programme held recently in Makarfi, Northern Co-coordinator of GPFN, John Hayab, stressed that God in His wisdom has a purpose of making us belong to different religious belief and groups so that we may live together and respect each other’s differences.

A statement by the Media and Communications Officer of the Foundation, Richard Pius Garba, quoted Hayab to have said, “the ‘One Family Under God’ Campaign was created out of the desire to see that all human being irrespective of religion, race understands that we are descendants of Adam and Eve, which makes us members of one family in the eyes of God.

“The choice of these communities was not because there is crisis currently, but to further cements the existing peace and enlightens the people on the importance of recognizing each other’s differences.”

Also speaking at the event, Halliru Abdullahi Maraya, pointed out that Selfishness, ignorance and illiteracy are the major causes of violence in any society; hence, there is the need to enlighten the people on the dangers of religious crisis and tension as well as encourage brotherly love and dialogue in resolving issues.

In his remarks, Member representing Makarfi / Kudan Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Mohammed Usman, appealed to Nigerians to embrace dialogue in resolving their differences rather than discord for an improved socio economic growth.

Participants both in Ikara and Makarfi LGAs applauded the foresight of GPFN, saying, the campaign was apt considering the way most people hysterically relate with their neighbors from different faiths. They however pledged to spread the message of peace and oneness to their immediate communities.