KADUNA — As part of his multi dimensional approach to sustaining peace and unity, Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State, yesterday distributed over N163 million to 366 groups comprising Muslims and Christians organisations in the state.

The state government said it would soon commence the disbursement of N2 billion for the development of Micro Small Medium Enterprises, SMEs, in the state.
The Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Ismaila Aliyu, disclosed this, yesterday, in Kaduna at a workshop for managers of micro finance banks from the 23 local governments in the state.

However, the assistance to Christians and Muslims was meant to support the various religious groups in building places of worship as well as carrying out other learning activities.

Speaking during the presentation of cheques to representatives of the religious groups, Yero said his administration would not relent in its effort at sustaining lasting peace that would lead to reintegration of the diverse groups in the state.

His words: “We are assisting religious groups because of the importance of religion in ensuring peace and harmonious coexistence among our people. Religious leaders must not forget their roles as leading lights and they must preach true gospel of God without injecting their personal opinions, because we have observed that some preachers add personal opinions to the word of God.

“From today we are going to ensure that the people always mix together; whatever we are going to do in this state we must sit together as brothers irrespective of tribe or religion.
“The principle of our administration is to reintegrate our people. Whether we like it or not, God has already brought us together and we must tolerate one another because we must live together.

“If anything happens and we say we must revenge and then the other people say they must also take vengeance, the situation will never end.”