THE Kaduna State government has been urged to bring conflicting societies and people together by establishing socio-economic projects that would engage them.

It should also embark on in-house genuine reconciliation among the Southern Kaduna elite to achieve sustainable  development in the region.

These were part of the recommendations/resolutions in the communique issued at the end of the two day seminar/workshop on ‘peace and reconciliation – key to development’ organised by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, SOKAPU, in Kaduna.

The two day seminar also recommended that the pursuit for the creation of Gurara state should continue until the dream was achieved, adding that this would in no small measure accelerate the development of southern Kaduna.

The communique observed that though violent conflicts were inevitable aspects of human existence, their negative consequences were preventable through deliberate policies and programmes aimed at their effective management.

It noted that violent conflicts in the country have negatively affected the national economy, stressing that it has resulted in the channelling of scarce public resources into the provision of security rather than the provision of basic social amenities.

The communique noted that where the alleged offenders were not being investigated and adequately prosecuted, the situation could eventually degenerate into a sustained and perverse cultural impunity.

While stressing that the shared cultural heritage of hospitality among Southern Kaduna people can not be traded for hatred, rancour and vengeance, the communique advised the people to be more interested in developing icons that are interested in moving Southern Kaduna people away from the current stagnation rather than idols or instruments of self actualization.

The two day seminar had keynote address on communal crisis, peace building and development, presented by Dr. Bakut Tswah Bakut, with papers from Esther Markus, Prof James Kantiok, Interfaith Mediation Centre and Dr. Yusuf Atang. In attendance were the deputy governor of Kaduna State, Amb Audu Bajoga, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Elder Buba Yero and royal fathers from the zone.