Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, on Monday, raised the alarm that some politicians have been instigating poor and vulnerable Nigerians to cause violence and anarchy, warning that such actions could undermine democracy and peace in the country.
Sani said this at a Special Interfaith Dialogue with traditional rulers and Christian and Muslim religious leaders in Kaduna.
He appealed to religious leaders to caution politicians against mobilising vulnerable people, particularly youths, to engage in violent protests and actions that could threaten peace and security.
Governor Sani said religious leaders had a major responsibility to educate Nigerians on the need for peaceful conduct, particularly during elections.
“You have a responsibility to caution politicians because of what I’m seeing in Nigeria today. A lot of politicians are instigating the downtrodden, our children, to cause violence and anarchy, to the detriment of our democracy,” he said.
Recalling his experience as an activist and his detention by successive military governments, Sani said he had spent much of his life fighting for justice, democracy and the rule of law.
The Governor said politicians who encouraged people to take to the streets should be prepared to lead such actions themselves instead of exposing the children of poor Nigerians to danger.
He said, “Many times, I talk to politicians. I tell them, if you are talking about telling people to go to the street, why can’t you make your children lead, or you lead?
“Unfortunately, you never see the children of the politicians. Their children are either in London, Dubai or America. But most of the children on the street are the children of the poor. They are the vulnerable children.”
The governor said Northern Nigeria had a major responsibility to ensure that the region was not left behind or plunged into crisis during elections.
According to him, political disagreements should not be allowed to degenerate into hatred or violence, stressing that people had the right to hold different opinions.
“Everyone has the right to his own opinion. We can disagree, but we don’t have to hate each other. We don’t have to try to instigate violence,” Sani said.
He stressed that elections would always produce winners and losers, but peaceful conduct of the electoral process should remain the priority.
“I believe in politics, there must be a winner and loser. But what is more important is the peaceful conduct of elections in Nigeria. And I feel all of us have responsibility, not only the government,” he said.
Sani also urged religious and traditional leaders to continue praying for the country and its leaders, saying Nigeria needed prayers for its leaders to be guided to do what was right.
He added that the state government would continue to convene the interfaith dialogue quarterly to provide more opportunities for leaders to discuss issues affecting peace and security.
Also speaking on the occasion, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Nuhu Bamalli, said Nigerians need to be accommodating and respectful of one another’s way of life and religion.
The monarch appealed to Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers and embrace an all inclusive way of life.
