Nigerians must engage in dialogue for peace – Sultan, Bayero 

The Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar II has said Nigerians must continue to dialogue for peace and forgiveness to reign.

The monarch made the statement, Tuesday, at the 4th annual ‘forgiveness day’ coinciding with the 47th year anniversary of Plateau state held at the Jos Wrang Pam township stadium.

He said without peace and forgiveness there will be good governance, and no development.

“Politicians should emulate Europeans, who used the traditional institutions to enthrone peaceful coexistence in their various domains,” he saidd.

Similarly, the Emir of Kano His Royal Majesty Aminu Ado Bayero harped on the importance of peace and peacful co-existence amongst the people.

He said, “I was in Jos when the first crisis started during Governor (Joshua) Dariye, noting that his late father and late Emir of Zazzau made so much efforts to ensure the restoration of peace, because Kano and Jos are almost the same in terms of mixed population. 

“I recalled that my father, the late Emir of Kano and the late Emir of Zazzau were busy coming to Jos, intervening to ensure that peace was restored.

“I remember that the Emir of Zazzau was the one chairing the meetings, but I did not know where the crises continued. But now we have another peace maker in the person of Governor Simon Lalong who is doing what our fathers started, and I said we have to support him.”

The Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Buba, commended Governor Simon Lalong’s efforts at ensuring the restoration of peace amongst communities in the state.

The monarch however said, “The foundation of peace is justice.”

He frowned at some inciting comments by religious leaders, and recalled that the state inter-religious council had once reported for the apprehension of a cleric in the state.

“A lot of hate speeches are coming from religious leaders from both sides, and needed to be cautioned,” he said.

The state governor, Simon Lalong said his administration’s peace efforts are yielding good result and appreciated the traditional rulers and all former military and civilian governors that ruled the state for attending the programme.