Traditional rulers in Kaduna State have commended the government of Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai for the curfew in the State, and also for the visits to hospitals and affected locations and the state broadcast made by the Governor following unrest in Kasuwan Magani.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the traditional rulers made the commendation on Tuesday during a high profile Security Council meeting Governor el-Rufai held with heads of security agencies and the traditional rulers in the state.
At the meeting, HRH Alhaji Dr. Shehu Idris, the Emir of Zazzau, commiserated with the government over the Kasuwan Magani unrest, and appealed to all communities in the state to strive to pave in peace.
HRH, the Emir of Zazzau has led the council of traditional rulers into the Council Chambers for a meeting with Malam Nasir @elrufai and the heads of the security agencies pic.twitter.com/pQ8QQjLRFz
— Governor of Kaduna (@GovKaduna) October 23, 2018
In his speech, Governor el-Rufai commiserated with the traditional rulers over the abduction of the Agom Adara, asserting that “it appears that a constituency has developed which believes that violence pays, and is convinced that violence has no consequence for the perpetrators”.
The Security Council regrets the inconvenience of curfew in the state to residents and noted that the obligation to secure lives and property necessitates the uncompromising approach.
Security council selectively varied the 24-hour curfew in Kaduna metropolis and other parts of the state with immediate effect, and government said it will continue to monitor the situation, and make further announcements based on the guidance of the security agencies.
Governor el-Rufai acknowledged the efforts of the Royal Highnesses present at the meeting in the cause of peace in the state, saying “In particular, we are grateful to their Royal Highnesses, the Emir of Zazzau and the Esu Chikun for their sterling leadership and counsel”.
“As you are aware, there have been breaches of the peace since Thursday, 18th October 2018, when unrest broke out in Kasuwan Magani. The state government promptly imposed a curfew in the area. The loss of lives was staggering, and the damage to lives and livelihoods considerable.
“A brazen crime was committed. We owe the victims justice, and our state respite from the impunity of those who have arrogated to themselves the authority to wantonly violate lives and the rights of others.
“Your Royal Highnesses, we all have a supreme obligation to overcome the legacy of strife in Kaduna State. We are not the only diverse place on this planet. And we must not hold on to a legacy of violence and division.
“The first ethno-religious clash in the state which happened in Kasuwan Magani in 1981, led to the loss of innocence. Since then, it appears that a constituency has developed which believes that violence pays, and is convinced that violence has no consequence for the perpetrators.
“It is time to firmly persuade them otherwise. It is time for a powerful coalition for peace to speak frankly and support firm actions against those who menace the right of our citizens to live in peace wherever they choose and to freely practice their faith anywhere.
“No group or individual will be allowed to veto or constrain the rights that the Constitution has guaranteed,” the Governor stated.