Bomba Dauda
In a press statement signed by the Southern Kaduna Christians Leaders Association, SKCLA, Chairman, Bishop Simon Peters Mutum, the group expressed dissatisfaction over the sidelining of key stakeholders of the region from the Peace Summit organized by the Nigeria Christians Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, in Kafanchan, yesterday.
According to the Clergy, these stakeholders who were sidelined are those that have been bearing the brunt of the genocide against their people over the years and it is dissatisfying to note that these stakeholders heard about the Peace Summit few hours to it’s commencement.
“For sidelining key stakeholders in the region,” he said. Adding, “the Southern Kaduna Christians Leaders Association has boycotted the Peace Summit organised by the NCPC and Concerned Citizens of Southern Kaduna.
The Christians Leaders added that from all indications, all the arrangements had been completed without the involvement of some of the key stakeholders of Southern Kaduna that have been suffering from the killings.
“We are, therefore, deeply concerned about who the ‘Friends of Southern Kaduna’ are and what may be their real motives! We are also troubled that a Peace Summit can be organized for a people without involving the key leaders of the people to be discussed with/ about!
” So, in as much as we would love to be part of a Peace Summit, we want to know who the organizers are and what they really want to achieve by this Summit, going by the way they planned it! We would also want an explanation as to why the leadership of SOKAPU, CAN and SKCLA were sidelined in the planning of the Summit,” the statement said.
“We would have wished that the Peace Summit be rescheduled until all our questions are properly answered and every key player (the youths, CDAs, traditional institution, regional groups of interest & religious groups) are contacted and carried along! and that is our prayer,” the statement added.
The clergies advised that the Peace Summit be postponed and that a new ground work should be properly done.
“If, however, the Summit progresses as planned, SKCLA in conjunction with other Christian groups, will have no option but to withdraw its participation in the Summit.
The Peace Summit has already kick started. The programme commenced at 10:00am with over 100 participants across religious Faith.
Meanwhile, The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union(SOKAPU), had earlier appealed for the summit be rescheduled to a later date to enable them conclude all consultations, “Otherwise, the summit may proceed and we shall be glad to be Communicated with the outcome.”
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