Bauchi State Governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, says there cannot be any meaningful development without peace in the society.
The governor made the assertion on Monday evening when he received officials of the Coalition of Christian Association of Nigeria and Council of Ulamas from Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas of the state at the Government House, Bauchi.
Governor Mohammed lamented that meaningful projects are not brought to the LGAs largely due to religious and tribal crises.
According to the governor, there is a need for peaceful coexistence among the communities in the two local governments, irrespective of their differences, as meaningful development could only be achieved in a peaceful environment.
He said if there is peace in the areas, it will enable his administration to effectively execute projects for the people.
He assured that maintenance of peace and execution of developmental projects will be part of his administration’s landmark legacies not only in the two local government areas but also across the state at large.
He assured that his administration will work with stakeholders to ensure the safe return of all the displaced communities in the two local government areas.
“Today is a very historic moment for me. In my life, I have handled several difficult assignments and confronted different situations.
“Your coming here is a solution to the problems affecting your communities.
“I am so much happy that our Muslims and Christians in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro have now come together in peace to proffer solutions to the numerous problems confronting the area with a view to finding the long-lasting solutions for posterity and consolidation,” the governor said.
He said the state government will put machinery in place to resolve the issue raised by the coalition through community engagement and collective decision.
The governor, however, admonished religious leaders in the areas to sensitise the youth with a view to making them desist from fomenting trouble.
“We will engage all the stakeholders involved to resolve the issues you brought to us here amicably without any bias, but I want you as religious leaders to sensitize our youth to desist from engaging or allowing themselves to be used for violence,” he told the visiting religious leaders.
In their separate remarks, the religious leaders informed that the people of the areas have agreed to live together peacefully irrespective of their religious and tribal differences.
They added that the coalition was formed to complement the efforts of the present administration in the state in terms of promotion of peace across the state.
They assured the governor of their total support for the success of his administration.
They, however, appealed to Governor Mohammed to look into the challenges the people of the two local government areas face.
This, according to them, is to enable the people benefit from the administration’s modest achievements in the area of provision of critical infrastructure.
