In this encounter, Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State ruminates over the last election violence that tore his state apart. Speaking with select correspondents in Kaduna last Tuesday, he says that his biggest challenge is how to reconcile a state so diverse and divided along political, religious and ethnic lines.

By Luka Binniyat

After the post-election violence that rocked some parts of the North, there are still cases of killings in some local governments areas, your local government area, Ja’ama, to be precise. What efforts are you making to salvage the situation, just so it does not become a replica of what is happening in Plateau State?

Well, a lot has been done and we will continue to do more. In fact, many people refer to the post-election violence, which I have described as unnecessary, because there was no need for the violence that erupted. It was just purely political.
How?

In between two elections, some felt because they were losing election they had to resort to violence. You see nobody is talking about it. Violence, once it erupted like it did, you just imagine the way it would spread. When it started, a lot of property, houses and places of worship were burnt. Violence by the time it erupts, it can assume different dimensions – tribal, religious and otherwise.

However, nobody is talking about why did this violence erupt?

Who are those behind the violence?

The government and the security agencies are doing everything possible to see to the return of peace and normalcy in the state.

How are you seeing to this?

Reconciliation meetings right now is being held almost on daily basses. The SSG has been chairing a series of meetings with different groups, stakeholders from both southern and northern parts of the state, and many issues have been discussed, and I think that we are on course. However, the most important thing is the dialogue which I am encouraging.

I have been to Kafanchan and other parts of the state and I have held talks with so many people and I believe people are even beginning to regret the outbreak of the violence. As part of our concern for speedy return of permanent peace, we have begun implementing the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the post-election violence.

Yes, Je’ama is my local government area, I have met the Emir of Je’ama; I have met with different leaders in the local government and I have told them that God has put us together, we must find a way of living together in peace. The major task I have ahead of me now is reconciliation, and that is why the report of the high-powered committee I set up immediately after the violence recommended setting up of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which in the submission recommended that a reconciliation committee be set up.

Following their recommendations, we sat down  and directed, all the 23 Caretaker Committee chairpersons to instantly set up reconciliation committees that will start their reconciliation process from the local government level. Je’ama, Kachia, Zango-Kataf, Jaba and all the local government areas were there and we charged them to go and help us bring the people together to reconcile because we cannot afford to divide ourselves based on tribes or religion in this country.

Can we know the cost- implications of keeping and maintaining security personnel in almost every corner of the state? In addition, how soon is your government ready to conduct local government election because the Interim Management Committees constituted have been challenged in the court by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN?

Yes, you cannot quantify the cost of keeping security and maintaining peace. It has been expensive. Just before, I came here,  the last person I spoke with was the Inspector-General of Police and we were talking generally and about how to strive to avoid the kind of situation we have in Plateau State. We are doing everything that we can to avoid that ugly development. Certainly, we are doing everything possible by trying to get everybody involved.

We talked with  traditional rulers, religious leaders and stakeholders in the state. Recently, the Emir of Zauzau was urged to move round and bring together all the traditional rulers to be able to deliberate on peaceful co-existence of the people. About a month ago, I met with the leadership of “Miati Allah” (pan-Fulani socio-cultural group)  led by Senator Wali Jibril. Different groups and dignitaries were there including Group-Captain Usman Jibril, (now late) all the leadership of Miati Allah from the 23 local government  areas of the state, those of Plateau, Nasarawa, Jigawa and Kano states were present.

I am sure they were all impressed with our openness. The security challenges you talked about, you know what happened?  Some of them were local while some are politically-motivated. You know peace is ultimate to every development, so at this moment, no amount is too much for keeping the security agencies to maintain and ensure peace and to give the people the kind of assurance they needed.

Yes, you cannot keep police and soldiers everywhere in the state, their number is also limited and no matter the number of security personnel, you cannot completely police the entire country. That is why the idea of community policing comes in.

Therefore, the fact that security personnel are there, we want to make sure that their period of stay is as temporary as possible, and that is why we are engaging in dialogue right from the local government chairman level, their councillors, traditional, religious and opinion leaders. In addition, as soon as such efforts are finished, we will begin to see the unreserved peace and extensive development.

On the issue of local government election, it is better that ACN took the right step by going to court rather than instigating violence; going to court to challenge any decision is a democratic right of everybody. We expect our politicians to do the right thing by taking the steps ACN has taken rather than instigating the youths to take the laws into their hands. It is more democratic and civilised. Let us seek legal means of resolving issues, which is the best step.

In addition, if the court says I am wrong, I can assure you that the next day I will comply with whatever is the decision of the court. I respect and believe in the rule of law. Now, machinery has already been set in motion to sit and constitute the state independent electoral commission and once that is completed, before the end of this month, I can assure you that they will come out with a tangible timetable for the local government election in the state.