By: ISMAIL OMIPIDAN
NIGERIA has had to struggle with failure in various facets including political, social and economic failures occasioned by poor leadership and bad management of both natural and human resources.
The resurgence of ethnic and religious conflicts, especially in Kaduna, has once again fuelled pessimism concerning not only the future of democracy in Nigeria, but also the continued co-existence of the various nationalities that make up Nigeria.
Before the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999, many scholars who had written on ethnicity and political conflicts in the north especially, had argued that democracy, which in theory guarantees equal opportunity, equal access and equal distribution of economic surpluses, would help in the attainment of inter ethnic harmony in the country
However, recent happenings in Kaduna have proved otherwise. In March 2015, towards the build to the April 2015 general elections, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, incumbent Kaduna governor, then, as All Progressives Congress, (APC) governorship candidate, had while speaking on a Freedom Radio Kaduna Breakfast Programme, ‘Barka da Warhaka,’ promised to bring an end to the killings in Southern Kaduna area and Birnin-Gwari axis of the state.
Specifically, he said: “this is not play or politics; we are here with serious commitment and determination to serve with all sense of honesty, sincerity and fear of God. How can they be killing our people in Southern Kaduna areas like Kaura, Sanga and Birnin Gwari and Giwa without any action? Who are they and where are they coming from? How can these killers be committing such crime without being arrested and prosecuted?
“Something is wrong somewhere, part of which is negligence and insensitivity, we will not tolerate it and by the power of almighty God, we will crush them for maximum security and stability in the state.”
His position, helped in no small measure, in making most Southern Kaduna people turn their back on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate at the poll, as they had before then accused the PDP-led administration of Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of doing little or nothing in arresting the situation at the time.
But it is about 150 days to the next governorship election, the killings in Southern Kaduna area of the state have continued unabated. Although that of Birnin-Gwari axis may have reduced, the recent crisis in the state has made nonsense of whatever gains that were recorded in that regard.
For close to one week now, the state has been under curfew. Economic activities paralysed. Social life affected. Although, there are conflicting reports over whom between the Christians and Muslims drew the first blood, what is however not in doubt is the fact that there has always been a deep seated animosity between those who see themselves as original inhabitants, in most parts of Southern Kaduna, and those they regard as settlers, the Hausa/Fulani community.
Often, the issue of who owns the land, and as such who should be the custodian, have always been at the centre of most of the violent clashes in some parts of the state, with religion, being played up, if those involved profess different faith. Unfortunately too, the leadership of the present government in the state and its political appointees from Southern Kaduna have not done enough to win the confidence of the people of the area. This is why, even when genuine mistakes are made on the part of the government, the people see them as deliberate actions targeted at them.
However, if we must put an end to this madness, then we must call a spade, a spade and not farm implement. We must separate genuine agitations from criminal acts.
One of the reasons criminal acts perpetrated under the guise of religion and ethnicity persist, is because perpetrators are never punished. One way to stop this act is to ensure that those identified as perpetrators are apprehended and dealt with according to the law.
Also, government must ensure that Community Leaders where the act takes place are held liable. The leaders in turn, through law enforcement agents should ensure that every home in that Community is made to contribute financially towards rebuilding everything and anything that was destroyed during the crisis. Maybe, if we start holding Community Leaders responsible, the spate of attack s, including religiously motivated violence on persons will be minimised.
Also, government and its officials must moderate their utterances and views in times of peace and war. Some of the unguarded utterances make it difficult sometimes to trust government’s judgement on some of the raging issues.
To my Muslim brothers and sisters, I may not be an Islamic cleric, but my knowledge of Islam teaches me that our religion frowns at attack on non-Muslims in our midst, even if their kinsmen attack our fellow Muslims in their area. Leave vengeance for Allah.