In a powerful show of unity, traditional rulers from Southern Kaduna gathered in Kafanchan on Wednesday for an unprecedented meeting aimed at strengthening peace and paving the way for future development.
The initiative, convened by the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) under the leadership of Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, brought together Christian and Muslim religious figures, including several Chief Imams, and all paramount rulers from across the region.
Organisers say the meeting is a proactive step to consolidate recent gains in peace and address emerging challenges facing the region.
Apostle Kure highlighted the urgency of unity in his remarks, warning that lingering divisions could threaten the region’s stability if left unaddressed.
“We cannot afford to return to the past,” he said. “The time has come for Southern Kaduna to rise as one people with a common destiny.”
Traditional leaders in attendance, including the Emir of Jama’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa Muhammadu II, and the Chief of Kagoro, Dr. Ufuwai Bonnet, praised the initiative as long overdue.
Both leaders expressed their commitment to supporting the peace process, describing the gathering as “timely” and “vital for the future survival” of the region.
They also lauded the religious leaders for setting aside differences and creating a platform for collaboration across ethnic and faith lines.
The meeting, which also included respected elders from the area, is being hailed as a breakthrough in efforts to promote interfaith and interethnic dialogue in one of Nigeria’s most diverse and historically volatile regions.
Observers say the gathering signals a new chapter for Southern Kaduna, where decades of communal tensions may now give way to a more united and peaceful coexistence.
