Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has called on the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Northern Nigeria, comprising the 19 Northern States, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to convey a peace summit that would end the frequent killings and attacks in the region.
The Governor believed the summit if held would reconcile the divisions between the Tivs and Jukun communities in Benue and Taraba States.
He appealed to CAN to not only focus on trouble spots in the North, but to also extend its peace initiative to the Southern Kaduna to ensure lasting peace in the area.
These areas have continued to witness incidences of banditry and communal clashes that have set the people and the region backward.
Governor Sule made the call while hosting Rev. Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), who is also the CAN chairman in the North at the Government House in Lafia.
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He suggested that the peace summit should either be in Benue or Taraba State, with a view to reconciling the crisis ridden communities.
Sule offered to actively participate in the process in order to bring lasting peace to the two neighbouring states, which will in turn translate to peace in Nasarawa State.
While identifying peace as a vital tool to every aspect of development, the Governor emphasized that Nigeria and Nasarawa State, cannot afford not to have peace.
The Governor however pleaded with the Northern Nigeria CAN Chairman, to seek to be part of those implementing the recommendations contained in the report from the peace summit in Southern Kaduna.
“Please Sir, it’s not just the report that you will hand over to Governor El-Rufai. Rather, the implementation of that report is more important than the report,” he stated.
He urged the CAN leadership to continue with the process, so he can implement the recommendation, in order to bring enduring peace in Southern Kaduna.
In his opening remarks, the Northern Nigeria CAN Chairman, commended the courage demonstrated by Goveenor Sule when he chose to complete projects initiated by his predecessors, describing the feat as unusual.
Pam said, the purpose of the visit was to show appreciation to the Governor, for allocating the highest number of seats to Christian pilgrims last year and appealed to the Governor to further increase the number of seats for Christian pilgrims from the state.
He expressed optimistic that going to the holy land to pray for Nigeria and Nasarawa State to have peace.
