Why there’s no insurgency, herdsmen, farmers’ crisis in Kano – Ganduje 

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has said that the peace being enjoyed in the state in spite of pockets of insurgency and conflicts between farmers and herdsmen was as a result of government’s policy of inclusiveness and proactive approach to security issues.

The governor, who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Blueprint newspaper in Abuja on Wednesday, said the state government has a robust system of engaging all the ethnic groups and religious bodies on the importance of living together.

He said: “In Kano state, we were able to make effective and community security programme in addition to what the President has done. We were able to provide effective communications equipment, some logistics and frequent meetings and also established synergy with local communities so that we can get some security information. I think that assisted us in curtailing insurgency situation in the state.

“Many Boko Haram commanders have been arrested in Kano, that also is as a result of efficiency of the security agencies and also, of course, the gadgets that we provided.

“Another issue that has contributed to peace and stability in Kano state is the constant dialogue with all the stakeholders. Few weeks ago, we had an Interfaith Summit and we invited Christians and Muslims leaders, and other relevant stakeholders. We met for one week and came up with a communiqué. We also set up an Interfaith Committee to be meeting from time to time, and that is why we have been able to reach understanding among the religious leaders.”

Ganduje also spoke on the indigene and settlers issue that has been a source of conflicts in some parts of the country, saying there was the urgent need to remove indigeneship in the country’s constitution.

“In this country we are having a lot of problems, religious, tribal, herdsmen and farmers’ clash, etc. All these have to do with relationships and, of course, the current economic realities. But, the constitution we borrowed from the United States of America should be applied fully even though we are in a different zone and culture. “In order to get very serious national integration, the parameters of national indigeneship should not be based on tribe, religion or place of birth, it should be based on where you are staying and what you do. Are you paying your taxes? Are you contributing to the overall development of where you are since you are benefiting from the services there? You are benefiting from the security that is being provided, are you contributing your own quota to the development of that environment?

“If you are already paying your taxes, I think you are already an indigene of that place, not just because you are the son of the soil, but because you are contributing to the economic development of the state, employing people and doing great and positive things.

“In Kano, we are doing our part to ensure that that dichotomy is removed. Because in some states where we have some problems, it is basically because of this indigeneship issue. So, our believe is that to have national integration we should remove indigeneship issue. So, I think it is a constitutional issue which the national and state assemblies should deal with,” he said.

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