We cannot afford another crisis in Kaduna – Yero

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalam Yero has said the state cannot afford to go into another crisis because the value of crisis experienced in the state in the past cannot be quantified with the value of peace presently prevailing in the state.

Yero stated this during a workshop organized for religious groups in northern Nigeria held in Kaduna yesterday.

The governor who was represented by Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yahaya Aminu said, Kaduna state has had enough share of violence and destruction, therefore it is time for all and sundry to sit down and draw a road map for a permanent peaceful coexistence in the state.

He said that peace has no alternative and can only be achieved through the resolute of the people.

“I have said it at many forum, that it is not the number of security forces deployed on the streets or the number of arms they carry that can bring peace to the state, but the determination of the people to live in peace with each other.

“That is why this workshop is very important to us because religious leaders play a significant role in attaining and sustaining peace in any environment. If the religious leader wants peace to exist, nobody can change that and this why my government has been working with them to build a peaceful and harmonious existence in the state.

“My administration has peace as its topmost agenda and we have demonstrated this when we hosted an international peace seminar for cities in conflict across the world. We have learnt from the experience how they survive crisis and we have put some of the suggestions into practice for peace to prevail in our state,” he said.

Governor Yero commended the United Nations Development Program (UNDP for sponsoring the program and advised participants to ensure that the knowledge they acquire during the seminar are passed down to their followers, because as religious leaders their people look unto them for advice and counseling.

The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Prof Osita Osita said the choice of Kaduna state to host the programme is because the remarkable efforts put in place to sustain peace and stability in the state.