The African Initiative for Peace Building Advocacy and Advancement (Afripeace) has called for inter-religious cohabitation among Muslim and Christian communities, stressing that the lack of it has continued to fuel crisis in the state.
The Focal Person of the initiative in Kaduna, Odita Luka, while speaking at a one-day training for relevant stakeholders on inclusive community-led reconciliation and conflict recovery said the situation is responsible for the challenges in the resolution of conflicts in the state.
“Kaduna State has been polarised along religious and ethnic lines and the situation has made reconciliation very difficult. Reconciliation and peaceful coexistence are achievable if residents find common ground in their humanity and values,” Luka said
He urged participants at the training to mobilise their community members and find common grounds for reconciliation and peace building.
On his part, the Assistant Programme Officer, Rossi Paul, explained that the training was designed to provide stakeholders with the needed skills to manage conflicts in their communities.
The resource person, Rev. Bitrus Dangiwa, said while conflict is inevitable, it could be managed if community members have the capacity to recover from conflict, reconcile and live peacefully with one another.
He described agitation for the break-up of the country as political, adding that even if the Yoruba or Igbos go their separate ways, there would still be conflict because it is inevitable.