Uthman Abubakar
3 July 2009
(Page 2 of 2)
For Imam Muhammad Kabir: "If there is no leader to enforce discipline, justice and fairness among the different peoples of the community, anybody can breach the rights of his fellowman with impunity, and another person can do worse tomorrow ,because he saw somebody doing it the previous day and he was not punished. We have gone formally to the Long Goemai to apologise to him, in case we have offended him. He is still silent on that. If we had a chief, the crisis could have been averted."
Father Michael Kelong of the Catholic Church is the Acting Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of Yelwa.
"I came here in 2007. I was in Bauchi as a priest when I heard about the crisis of 2002 and 2004, which claimed the lives of a big population and destroyed a large quantity of properties. When I came back home to see the ruins of destroyed houses I lamented it deeply. It is very hurting and nauseating," Father Kelong lamented.
"When I assumed duty, we the Christians had to go into dialogue with the Muslims. We called them together to forge peace and harmonious coexistence. I have told them that we need each other as Muslims and Christians, we must live together whether we like it or not. Indonesia has the highest population of Muslims, yet Christians are there. Both of them are living peacefully without any destruction of humanity and property. We, the Jarawa and the Gamai, just woke one morning with guns and knives against each other. What is left now? All of us are now regretting it. It is not the same Yelwa again," he bemoaned.
"However, we had different dialogues. The Muslims are coming together with the Christians; both have seen the effect of the crisis. Lives are gone. So, what next? Peace, please!"
He complained about unfulfilled promises by government. "The present government is failing us. I must be frank. When the carnage and destruction of property occurred, there were instant assistances from the federal and state governments, including the Plateau State government, to the local government, but the rich sat on most of the assistances. I can say the government may have done its best, but some people siphoned the relief materials. Go round Nshar and Yelwa. You will see five or more people living in a single hut. The government of the past may have done its best, but the present government should help to resettle and rehabilitate the larger population who will vote for them during elections."
Pastor Nuhu Mati of the HEKAN Church of Yelwan Shendam and Julius Nyarnap of the Church Of Christ In Nigeria (COCIN) corroborated Father Kelong on peace efforts and other complaints.
According to Pastor Nuhu Mati, "Even two days ago (Friday, May 26) we met with elders, pastors and imams of the town on progress that has been made in terms of peace in this town. I have been preaching to my congregation that since God created all as Nigerians with different religious, with the two main religions being Islam and Christianity, we should uphold peaceful and harmonious coexistence. Most of the displaced who are scattered in the bush and other states want to return home, but they are weighed down by abject poverty. You can see that all their houses are in ruins. They lack the wherewithal to rebuild them. So, I plead with government to help such people to rebuild their houses."
He joined his fellow religious leaders in lamentation on the failure of government to assist in rehabilitation and resettlement, saying, "I am yet to see any assistance from government. If it had made any promises, I am yet to see any of the promises fulfilled. I can remember that initially, government promised to assist both sides to rebuild destroyed structures and resettle people. It has not done anything in that regard. Our church was razed down during the crisis. We spent about N5 million to rebuild it. Government did not assist us with a dime. In terms of food stuff, if anything was sent by government at all, we did not receive a grain in our church."
Lucy Mbimbol lost her husband during the crisis. She now lives with her seven children in a single room. She fends for them, including paying their school fees.
"We have restored substantial relationship of cordiality among us the women of the community," she offered, complaining, however, "but government is not forthcoming with any assistance at all to us widows. Consider fending for the orphans, their feeding and school fees for a widow who virtually has nothing doing. Most of us widows are living with all our children in rooms that do not befit us at all. I live with my seven children in a single room. When their father was alive, they had their own room, and we had our own as parents. The government promised to assist with building and other relief materials. We have not received anything of that sort."
"Whatever level of peace we have achieved is due to the constant dialogue we have been holding with the traditional rulers and the religious and other community leaders, during our Security Council meeting," the Chairman of Shendam Local Government Council, Mr. Nicholas Nshe Kemi, offered on his mobile phone, saying, "We tell them that without peace, we cannot achieve any development democratically. On relief materials and resettlement promises, the local government has no hand there. The federal and other concerned agencies send the materials directly to the distressed people."
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