KADUNA – No fewer than 200 NGOs, religions groups and traditional rulers trekked from the Lugard Hall Round About to Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna metropolis on Saturday
It was part of activities marking the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week aimed at promoting global peace.
Leader of the group, Pastor Yohana Buru, said the essence of the walk was to strengthen peace among groups in the state.
Buru called for peace all over the country and charged Nigerians to support the government in its quest for national peace and unity.
According to him, NGOs in the state acting under one umbrella, decided to come together to harmonise disharmony through faith trekking.
The state Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Alhaji Bashir Zubairu renewed government’s commitment toward achieving sustainable peace.
Zubairu said the state government would continue to support NGOs, institutions and organisations working to promote peace in the state.
He commended the initiative of the UN deepening tranquility through interfaith harmony week.
“I pray that this week will give us unity, peace, reconciliation and healing of past wounds’’, he said.
Leader of the Islamic group, Malam Ibrahim Maibarota, called on the people of the state to continue to live in peace and unity with one another.
Maibarota said that the Christianity and Islam were religions that preach peace and love.
He urged faithful of both religions to always be their brothers’ keepers irrespective of religion and ethnic differences.
The leader of the Northern Yorubas, Chief Ambassador Arighbuwo, commended the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state.
He described Kaduna as the heart of Northern Nigeria that needed to be peaceful, saying “if Kaduna is peaceful, Nigeria will be at peace.’’
The leader commended Gov. Mukhtar Yero for ensuring that the state achieved sustainable peace.
A traditional ruler, Alhaji Kabir Abubakar, Marafan Goningora and Walin Tudun Wada, also promised to continue promoting sustainable peace in the state.
Abubakar pledged to work with others and render his fatherly support and advice to all NGOs promoting peace in the state.
Some of the NGOs that participated in the walk were Patrotic Peace for Justice, Kaduna Youth Association for Peace and Progress, Tunfafiya Delopment Forum, and Kaduna State Hunters Association.
Others were the Manzon Allah Sirin Hadinrai, Peace Agenda Development, PMAN, Muslim Christian Dialogue Forum and Generation for Peace.
The UN had declared the first week of every February as World Interfaith Harmony Week to promote global peace. (NAN)
