AMAC officials, religious, youth leaders move to mitigate violence

By Stanley Onyekwere

In furtherance to its strategic engagement with stakeholders, officials of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) yesterday met with religious and youth leaders, on mitigating the seemingly endless waive of looting and destruction of property in some parts of the Council.
In particular, stakeholders made of youth leaders drawn from educational, indigenous, Muslim, Christian faith-based and Civil Society organisations took turns to suggest ways out of the wanton looting spree and violence, in order to restore calm in the Council.
Our correspondent reports that the initiative that kicked off last Friday with engagement of traditional leaders, is a platform for continuous dialogue with stakeholders, on addressing the continued widespread violence spree, in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests in the Territory.
Speaking at the meeting, the AMAC Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido urged stakeholders to support government’s efforts to calm down the rising violence especially looting of public and private warehouses.
Candido, who was represented by his Vice, Hon. Lawrence Onuchukwu, stated that with the current situation of things people must engage relevant people as well as go closer to God in prayers especially the religious leaders.
According to him, as leaders there is the need to engage key stakeholders on the wayforward when things are no more going well, adding that involving the opinion leaders was to identify areas that have to be reappraised.
“What is happening in Nigeria or in Abuja is not good, no sincere person in AMAC will say he or she is happy, but we will continue to liase with stakeholders especially religious leaders to tackle the challenges.
“Let us continue to make our people understand that we have no other country to call our own except Nigeria, those causing the problem are not real Nigerians, they have dual citizenship. But for us in AMAC we have no where to go”, he stressed.
Contributing, the Director, Youth Education and Women Development, FCT Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. David Amos called on the political Office holders to deliver the desired services to the that they rule.
The clergyman described the incessant looting of warehouses as criminal, calling on the youth to steer clear of the act.
Similarly, Chief Imam Area 10 Juma’at Mosque, Yahaya Garba Yolawi, who represented FCT Imams, made case for adequate security at all levels.
He urged the council officials to always carry the people along in taking decisions that have direct impact on the people.
Apart from the religious and youth leaders, the meeting had in attendance representatives of students, market women.