"All Kaduna Citizens Are Equal, No Indigene/Settler Dichotomy"– Yero

The living pattern in Kaduna metropolis is divided along ethno-religious line, and the "ugly situation" is now spreading to other parts of the state, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero said in Kaduna yesterday. Speaking during a lecture on peace as part of activities to mark his 100 days in office, the governor said the new pattern of living is was as a result of "unwarranted hostilities". "Government is disturbed by the situation where people can no longer reside wherever they wish for fear of being singled out for attack in times of crisis due to a particular disparity with other residents that are in majority. "We reject such situation and we are currently working on ways to build genuine peace, where people of diverse background will have the confidence to live side by side in any part of the state they so wish. We cannot work together and share jokes by afternoon and fear to sleep in the same locations at night. That is not genuine peace and we cannot continue that way. "As first step to achieving greater unity, I have declared that all citizens of Kaduna State are equal; there is no indigene/settler dichotomy in our state. This has become necessary to douse tension and give all citizens a sense of belonging", he said. He said his administration would continue to encourage people of the state to live peacefully and contribute to the development of the state through lawful means. "As citizens of Kaduna State and by extension Nigeria, we must eschew all forms of sentiments and suspicions against one another on the basis of differences earlier highlighted. We must see ourselves as one people united under one God," he said. In his paper entitled 'The Importance of Peace, Unity and Audacity for Socio-economic Development in Kaduna State', Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University Professor Barnabas Qurix advocated for establishment of peace and reconciliation committees at local government levels Naij