End Southern Kaduna Killings, Agwai Tells El-Rufai.....

A former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Agwai, on Tuesday, appealed to Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, to ensure that the persistent crises in the southern part of the state were resolved during his tenure.....

While the former CDS acknowledged that the Southern Kaduna crises predated El-Rufai’s administration, he added that it was possible that God might use the governor to end the bloodshed.

Agwai, who was appointed by the governor as the Chairman of the General Martin Luther Agwai Peace and Reconciliation Committee on Southern Kaduna Crises, spoke at a peace summit organised by Friends of Southern Kaduna in collaboration with Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission in Kafanchan on Tuesday.

The summit had as its theme: ‘De-escalating violence in Southern Kaduna’.

The former CDS, who was represented by Mr Darey Akau, said, “I want to appeal, particularly to our governor, that truly the violence in Kaduna did not start today and is older than many of us.

“But how does he know that he is not the one God has decided to come and end this violence.

“Why doesn’t he take a chance and write his name in history so that what many people have failed to do, by the grace of God, he can do it?”

While declaring the summit open, the Executive Secretary, NCPC, Rev. Yakubu Pam, said the commission deemed it fit to provide a platform for the warring parties to discuss and take ownership of the peace process.

He stated, “Anytime I hear of killings and banditry anywhere in the world, it brings me vision of catastrophe, pain, trauma and agony that God’s creation are subjected to.

“Our mission here is to facilitate a peace process through dialogue and negotiation as well as enhancing participation and cooperation among all stakeholders.”

Also, speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, TETFUND, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, implored participants to be frank in their submissions as only then could a solution be found.