Position traditional leaders to quell crisis – Lawmaker urges
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Member of House Representatives, representing Kaltungo/Shongom Federal Constituency, Hon. Simon Karu, has called for more defined roles for the traditional institution in forestalling communal clash.
He made this disclosure during the weekend, in an interview with our correspondent, shortly after a peace parley involving traditional rulers of the affected communities alongside the local government officials.
Recall that the recent Shongom clash was said to have claimed eight lives and over 50 houses.
While bemoaning the outright neglect of the institution, Karu said the traditional leaders are closest to the grassroots, adding that there are workable mechanisms which would aid quick mediation embedded in them.
He said, “Am most grateful and I appreciate the circumstances that we find our selves in. The incident that transpired on the 29th of May 2021, was indeed an unfortunate situation but we count it as a privilege that it is an opportunity for us to strengthen our communities. communities hardly stay together without having spites and conflict among them.
“But when it resolves to violent conflict then it calls for an inward review and then a look into cultural situation within them. Wherever you find breakout law and order certain values must have been violated before an eruption of the physical violence.
“So it is a call to duty for the local government chairman, it is a call to duty for the local government councillors, most especially it is a call to duty for our traditional leaders because they are the first respondents to such communal issues and if they are to manage such circumstances it will not escalate to the extent of such a huge physical violence.
“So it is happening at a point in time where our traditional leaders needs to be strategically positioned in the governance at the grassroots because they are the closest to the grassroots. For me, I think while it’s unfortunate, it is also an opportunity to go back to history and begin reason in terms of what dictates kept these communities in peace and harmony.”
On his part, Hakimi Burak, Gondak Garba promised that there wouldn’t be a repeat of the crisis, assuring that the traditional institution would step in to mediate.
“We are from the same local government, we have the same king. Honestly, we are praying and pleading with God that this thing should not happen again. Because rest of us like the minor tribes, are living in fear every day. When fight broke between two tribes, they should be settled because the minor tribes are always afraid.
“We should pray to God and also the community leaders should always try to sort things out between any community that has conflict with the other. A lot of people ran away from this community with everything they have.”
