Inclusive governance, community ownership key to Kaduna peace – Gov

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani credits the relative peace achieved in the state over the past three years to an inclusive governance model built on justice, equity, and community involvement. He urged other states struggling with insecurity to tackle the specific root causes of their challenges instead of applying uniform solutions.

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When we came into office, there was a lot of trust deficit between the government and the people. That was the first thing we addressed.

Speaking while receiving members of the National Economic Council Implementation Monitoring Committee, Governor Sani emphasized that states aiming to replicate Kaduna's peace model must first identify their unique drivers of insecurity and ensure local communities actively participate in peace-building efforts. Upon assuming office in May 2023, his administration prioritized rebuilding the significant trust deficit between the government and the populace.

"When we came into office, there was a lot of trust deficit between the government and the people. That was the first thing we addressed," Sani stated. His administration also focused on justice, equity, and fairness, arguing that politicians had previously exploited ethnic and religious divisions for personal gain. He noted that "conflict entrepreneurs," operating under the guise of religion and ethnicity, had fueled violence in Kaduna State for years.

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The security challenges in Kaduna State used to comprise ethno-religious crises on one hand and kidnapping and banditry on the other.

"The security challenges in Kaduna State used to comprise ethno-religious crises on one hand and kidnapping and banditry on the other," Sani explained. "From our statistics and data, we realized that we lost more lives as a result of religious crises in Kaduna State than even banditry. That is why we sat down and carefully examined the situation."

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From our statistics and data, we realized that we lost more lives as a result of religious crises in Kaduna State than even banditry. That is why we sat down and carefully examined the situation.

Governor Sani asserted that his administration has successfully resolved ethno-religious conflicts through inclusive governance and equitable project distribution across all 23 local government areas. "I make bold to say that there has never been any incident of ethno-religious crisis in Kaduna State since I became governor on May 29, 2023," he declared. He described the Kaduna peace model as a homegrown, community-driven initiative that has also significantly reduced kidnapping and banditry. He noted that over 500,000 hectares of farmland, previously abandoned due to insecurity, have been reclaimed, allowing thousands of farmers to resume cultivation.

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I make bold to say that there has never been any incident of ethno-religious crisis in Kaduna State since I became governor on May 29, 2023.