Nigeria’sAmbassadorthe Republicof Congo, MrsDeborahIliya, has called for peace in Kaduna state which recently witnessed upsurge of attacks and reprisal attacks after the kidnap and killing of a paramount ruler.

Iliya in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said she was joining the government and peopleofKaduna State in extending heartfelt condolencesto the family and people ofAdaraChiefdom over the abduction and killing oftheparamount traditional ruler, Dr MaiwadaGaladima.

She regretted that the communal violence that occurred inKasuwanMaganias well as other parts of the state claimed the lives of many residents.

The Kaduna state born ambassador said that the state has had more than enoughdestruction on lives, propertiesand hate in different dimensions – ethnical, religious and political.

“The abduction of the paramount traditional rule ofAdaraChiefdom,Dr.MaiwadaGaladimahas no religious or ideological justification.

“The hasty and frequent recourse to bloodshed over disputes that could have been appeased peacefully without the loss of lives and property has become a common trend and is dishearteningat the very least – my heart bleeds.

“In this day andage and at the level of dialogue that is possible between the differing communities– killingsand attacks on innocent people, destruction of homes, markets and placesof worship is totally unacceptable.Enough of this madness.

“At the front burner of theagenda of President MuhammaduBuhari is the provision of adequate security to the citizenry.

“This, Mr Presidenthassincedemonstrated by equipping the various security institutions of our security agencies,so that they would always act more efficiently.

“His concerns speak in theevent of the spiritedand swift responseof the State Gov.MallamNasirEl’Rufaiandthe armedforces, the police forensuring that peace, law and order were restored to thestate.’’

She said that the summon ofan emergency meeting of the Heads of the Security Agencies in Kaduna State and the state Council of Chiefsto discuss way forward on the issues at hand,was commendable.

According to her, there can never be any ideological justification for crimes against groups of innocent human beings, and it is one of the cardinalduties ofallMuslims and Christians to condemn such outrages wherever andby whomever they are committed.

“If your religion requires you to hate someone, you need a new religion.

“ Hatred paralyses, confuses and darkens life.We must choose to stick with love because “hate”is too much of a burden to bear.

“As a Woman,who believes that life is always sacrosanct andwho seeks peace at all times, I plead to those on social media platforms to stop the hateand fakespeech communications thatmisguide,promote violence,putsuspicion and fear among the people of Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State andthe country in general.

“It is our collectiveresponsibility to synergise withgood leaders in the effort to fixingour dream Nigeria.As a representative of the people, I call uponouryouths toshun violence.

“Do notoffer towaste your lives to violence -rather, activate your entrepreneurial spirit, activelyparticipate in the political process of Kaduna State and Nigeria–using democratic and nonviolent meansand your future is assured. Know however,that no amount of money on earth is worth your life– so do not waste it to violence.’’

The ambassador said it was clear that the past was a central dimension of reconciliation in Kaduna but reconciliation was essentially about the future–moving from a divided past towards a shared future for allcitizens in Kaduna State irrespective of their religious, gender,tribal and cultural affiliations.

According to her, there is aneed to move beyond peace rhetoric, through a progressive, step-by-step process towards a political settlement which builds stability, confidence and legitimacy over time.

“The short-term objective should be a reduction in violence while the long-term objective should be to achieve a more inclusive peace process that is representative of, and endorsed by,Kaduna Stateand the country in general.

“So let us turn, each of usto the wisdom in ourreligions andtraditions and in our communities, bringing together everything we know and everything our religious leaders and fore-parents have ever known about mediation, problem solving and peace-making.

“It is in this sense that I believe all religions have essentially the sameteachingthatisof peace. Within this context, there are ways to live and respond,in which no one is the loser.

“As we move toward restraint, let us all enter into long, deep, contemplative consideration of the current dilemmas that confront us.

“It is certain that we all want the same thing– that Southern Kaduna, Kaduna and Nigeria enjoy peace–thatour children will live; that the lives ofour loved ones will not end in killings and genocide,’’ she said. (NAN)