Bomba Dauda
The Kaduna State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir James Atung Kanyip, has called on lawyers, political, traditional and religious leaders, as well as citizens, to take deliberate steps towards rebuilding unity and fostering lasting social cohesion in Southern Kaduna.
Kanyip made the call while presenting a paper titled “Division to Cohesion: The Role of Lawyers, Leaders and Citizens in Southern Kaduna” at a roundtable meeting organised by the Southern Kaduna Lawyers’ Forum (SKLF) in Kaduna.
He identified recurring ethno-religious conflicts, political intolerance, the indigene-settler dichotomy, competition over resources, and the politicisation of ethnicity and religion as some of the major factors responsible for division in the region. According to him, these challenges have weakened trust, hindered development and deepened social fragmentation.
The Attorney-General stressed that achieving lasting peace would require collective responsibility, insisting that lawyers must champion the rule of law, defend the vulnerable and revive public-interest litigation aimed at protecting the rights of the people. He also urged the Southern Kaduna Lawyers’ Forum to regain its active role in promoting justice and human rights.
Kanyip further charged political leaders to pursue inclusive governance by ensuring fairness in the distribution of public resources and development projects, while traditional rulers and religious leaders should intensify efforts at conflict resolution, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence without partisan interference.
He urged citizens to reject hate speech, misinformation and divisive narratives, participate actively in democratic processes and support initiatives that strengthen peaceful coexistence and accountability.
As part of the way forward, Kanyip advocated the establishment of non-partisan platforms for Southern Kaduna leaders to pursue common developmental goals irrespective of political affiliation. He also endorsed the proposed Southern Kaduna Festival (SKFest), describing it as a viable platform for promoting cultural integration, tourism, investment and regional unity.
He concluded that the journey from division to cohesion would require justice, inclusive leadership and responsible citizenship, expressing confidence that Southern Kaduna could achieve lasting peace and prosperity through sustained collaboration among all stakeholders.
