Governor Bala Sues For Peace, Religious Tolerance In Tafawa Balewa, Bagoro LGAs

*Sets up 32-member interfaith committee

By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has expressed confidence that Imams and clergymen are vital in resolving ethno-religious conflicts, having hold trusted authority, and can access large audiences to promote peace.

He spoke on Monday in Bauchi at the inaugurating of an inter-faith committee of Imams and clergymen on sensitization of citizens on peaceful co-existence & religious tolerance in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro LGAs of the state.

The governor said, “They also serve as credible mediators, and are well-positioned to facilitate interfaith dialogue using religious frameworks to inspire non-violent resolutions”.

Senator Bala Mohammed noted that the religious leaders also have the ability to foster trust, influence followers positively, and advocate for understanding helps de-escalate tensions and build lasting harmony.

“Their efforts, we acknowledge, are most effective when supported by government efforts towards justice and fair play. We are committed to providing every support to ensure the Committee we are inaugurating today succeeds”, he added.

He enumerated other roles of the religious leaders to include often being seen as credible figures by their communities, which grants them significant influence and allows them to reach a broad audience effectively.

According to him, they are similarly crucial in mediating disputes and fostering dialogue between conflicting groups, promoting peaceful co-existence and encouraging intergroup communication.

In interfaith dialogue, the Imams and clergymen can act as bridges between different religious groups by leading initiatives for interfaith dialogue and understanding; as they also use religious scriptures to inspire followers to embrace values of love, forgiveness, and mutual respect, thereby countering hatred and violence, among others.

Governor Bala gave terms of reference of the committee as to embark on vigorous and sustained sensitization in order to promote peaceful co-existence and encourage intergroup communication.

The committee is also to mediate disputes and foster dialogue between different groups, where considered necessary, as well as act as bridges by leading initiatives for interfaith dialogue and understanding.

“Committee will utilize the Imams and Pastors religious institutions to provide a platform for community engagement and mobilization people towards peace-building efforts, influencing attitudes and behaviors towards common goals”.

It will in the same vein leverage on the teachings of religious scriptures to inspire adherents to embrace values of love, forgiveness and mutual respect in order to counter hatred and violence, and report situations that they may come across, that are beyond their capacities to relevant authorities for appropriate action.

The 32-member committee is to be core-chaired by Imam Alaramma Mallam Fa’izu Ado Musa and Rev. Father Benson Bature, Chairmen of Council of Imams and Pastors of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Governments respectively.

Membership also included Imams and Clergymen on equal basis from Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government, Representatives of Security Agencies, and representatives of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Council administrations.

Mohammed recalled that the Council of Imams and Pastors in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro which constituted the membership of the Committee had performed similar roles in the past and will leverage on their knowledge and experience to drive the process.

He assured the citizens that the sensitization exercise on the need for them to improve on the societal norms and values will be a key focus of the state government’s societal reorientation programme which is stabled to be launched in the very near future, praying that the initiatives will set the citizens on the course of sustainable progress and development.

The setting up of the committee, the governor argued, is necessitated by the need for the government to consolidate on the peace that it has built and sustained over the last six years of its stewardship, but which was recently threatened by the actions of some unpatriotic elements within the state who do not wish Bauchi well and are hiding under the cover of farmers-herders clashes to reverse the gains in that regard

Governor Mohammed who acknowledged that minor incidences are common, especially during the farming season, the dimension the recent threats have taken as a deliberate attempt to cause disharmony and portray the state in bad light in order to take away the recognition Bauchi has attained as the most peaceful in the Northeast sub-region, and among the most peaceful in the country.

Mohammed further recalled that his government has invested massively over the last six years in security and peace-building measures and will not allow anyone, no matter how highly placed, to scuttle the serenity and harmony it has attained upon which the state development and growth lies.

He warned that the state government will deal decisively with all shenanigans fueling such threats across the state, and in particular the Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas, and assured citizens that they are working very hard and continuously with the security agencies to contain every situation around the state.