Southern Kaduna Violence: Sultan calls for calm, restraint

*As CAN calls Council of Ulamas hypocrites

*JNI warns against hate speeches by religious, political leaders

*Says situation report from affected area exaggerated

Sultan of Sokoto and Sarkin Mu’mineen of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has expressed concern over the violence in Southern Kaduna, saying it was imperative that calm and restraint be ensured for peace to reign.

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar was quoted in a statement on Wednesday signed on behalf of the Jama’atu Nasri Islam (JNI) by its General Secretary, Alhaji Khalid Aliyu, to have urged all those involved in the violence to eschew bitterness and discard all forms of hate speeches.

The Sultan spoke just as the National Secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Wednesday, responded to a Press Conference organised by the Council of Imams and Ulamas in Kaduna State on Monday in which the Islamic clerics called for the arrests and prosecution of the CAN leadership, Senator Danjuma Laah and others for what the Council said were their inflammatory remarks which, according to them,  encouraged the violence in Southern Kaduna.

CAN, in the response, described the Council of Imams and Ullamas as made up of hypocrites.

But the Sultan called for calm and restraint affirming the efforts of the JNI leadership striving towards achieving a sustainable peaceful co-existence.

The JNI general secretary speaking further said that the Sultan, who is also President-General of JNI, “equally urges security agencies to always take proactive measures in order to nip in the bud future occurrences of sectarian violence in troubled areas.

“As he also calls for responsible and responsive leadership in addressing issues as they unfold so as to find lasting peace in our country.

The Sultan, Khalid Aliyu continued, “also maintains that Nigerians should learn to be patient with one another, live together in peace, harmony and mutual respect in order to move the country forward.

“He equally applauded the Muslim Ummah for not taking the laws into their hands, in the name of reprisal attacks and urged that the tempo be sustained.

“He implores government to step up its efforts in discharging her primary constitutional role of providing security and be just in dealing with the citizenry without fear or favour,” the JNI added in the statement.

The statement urged all to fear Allah, “as we shall all account for our respective actions and inactions before our creator.

“Lastly, Muslims are called upon to intensify prayers for the restoration of peace and security in Southern Kaduna in particular and Nigeria at large, bearing in mind that without Nigeria there will be no Nigerians.”

The statement by JNI observed that hate speeches and fabrications by some selfish leaders in the area had exacerbated the crisis.

It described as unfortunate, the deliberate attempt to manipulate reports coming out of the area with the aim of whipping up sentiments and escalating the crisis.

“More worrisome was the ineptitude and pettiness from some religious leaders, and individuals with sinister motives and political undertones alongside intent to foment trouble, and imbalance reportage.

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), according to the statement, expressed worry over what it termed as the pettiness of some political and religious leaders over the southern Kaduna crisis.  It observed that hate speeches and fabrications by some selfish leaders in the area had exacerbated the crisis, describing as unfortunate, the deliberate attempt to manipulate reports coming out of the area with the aim of whipping up sentiments and escalating the crisis.

“More worrisome was the ineptitude and pettiness from some religious leaders, and individuals with sinister motives and political undertones alongside intent to foment trouble, and imbalance reportage.

“While at some quarters, unguarded utterances full of exaggerations, beating the drums of war were the order of the day.”

The JNI added that those engaged in the false propaganda were doing so to plant the seed of discord and acrimony through hate speech and unguarded statements.

“Thank God, security agencies considered the alleged given figures as mere exaggerations.

“Additionally, a formidable Christian group rejected the call of dressing in mourning attire of black clothes.

“However, JNI is really worried with these aforementioned and ugly developments of accusations and counter accusations from religious leaders, which could lead to an un-ending conflict.

“Nonetheless, as always we reiterate that human life is sacred and should be treated so.

“It should be however noted that the 2011 post election violence is still fresh in our memories, particularly the documented gruesome murder of Muslims by the Southern Kaduna Christians.

“The then Federal Government had to set up a powerful Committee in order to investigate the immediate and remote causes that led to the saga and further advise the government.

“Likewise the Kaduna State Government constituted a reconciliatory Committee.

“It doesn’t matter the length of time, one day, perpetrators would be brought to justice, sooner or later.

“This is so opined because an adage says; “If the witch forgets, the mother of the bewitched son forgets not.”