INTERVIEW: Fulani, Jukun, others are the enemies of Taraba – Rev. Saredau

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Rev. Saredau

Rev. Dr. Philemon Azara Saredau is the North East Regional Coordinator Peace and National Reconciliation Organisation,( PANREO) , President Christian Clerics Forum For Peace and Conflict Mitigation, Secretary Arewa Pastors Forum For Peace,Taraba , member ECOWAS peace watch, and also the Secretary Taraba peace Council.

He is the longest serving commissioner in Nigeria having served as Taraba state Commissioner Boundaries from 1992 to 2012.

In this interview with Sky Daily’s Naseeru Taneemu Annuree, Rev. Saredau bares his mind on the lingering political, ethnic, and religious crises rocking Taraba state.

Excerpts:

Sky Daily: Sir, the issues of ethnic and religious conflicts in Taraba state seems to be growing with no end in sight. Do you subscribe to the argument that the crises is being fueled by external forces?

Rev. Saredau: Let us note well that the enemies of Taraba are within Taraba. They within the Tiv, Jenjo, Jukun, Kuteb, Mambilla, Karinjo, Bikwin, Kambu, Yandang, Ichen, Mumuye, Tigun, Kaka, Kona, Ndoro, Fulani, Hausa, Chamba, among other tribes living in the state. The root cause of all these crises are hatred, discrimination, lack of mutual trust, and respect for one another coupled with bad governance.

For us to attract peace and development in our state we must stop using religion and ethnicity for divide and rule, embrace one another, and be our brother’s keeper in love and righteous living. We must not use religion or ethnicity to shield the bad elements amongst us.

If all tribes in Taraba state choose to come together under one roof, and speak with one voice for development and security, there is no way the government will ignore a one united voice. Sadly, that is not the case in today’s Taraba. We should all strike in the same direction to avoid conflicts.

Sky Daily: Sir, are you saying the state has not been peaceful since it’s creation?

Rev. Saredau: Yes of course. Since the creation of Taraba state in 1991, we have not seen perfect peace. Taraba is the Liberia of Nigeria if you look at the unabated killings and counter killings across the state. Our coming together to form Taraba state was not universally accepted by some communities. Some felt they should be the landlords to host the state capital, that they cannot live with other communities even in heaven, and calling others with derogatory names. How can peace prevail under these odds?

We must come together to fight these odds. We all knows that peace and development are always attracted to a life of trust, love, and harmony.

Sky Daily: Jalingo has been the capital since the state was caved out of the defunct Gongola in 1991. What is your take on their several but failed shots at the state governorship seat?

Rev. Saredau: We must appreciate Jalingo community our landlord for hosting all of us even when we failed to recognize and compensate them with governorship seat. I am praying by 2023 the next Taraba governor will return back to Taraba north, to Jalingo to be precise.

Sky Daily: As someone familiar with the act of conflict mitigation for over three decades, what do you think should be  done to revive our peaceful coexistence once and for all?

Rev. Saredau: I am praying for a situation where the Tor-Tiv can have a friendship visit to Aku-Uka in Wukari, spend sometimes with the Tiv and Jukun communities to build mutual trust. Likewise, the Aku-Uka should also create time and visit the Tor-Tiv in Gboko, spend sometimes with the Jukun and Tiv communities to strengthen the mutual bonds, and this applies to all other chiefs or traditional rulers in Taraba state whose subjects are living in mistrust with one another. The traditional rulers in the state have a major peace advocacy roles to play because of their closeness to the people.

Sky Daily: Recently, the state Governor Arch. Darius Dickson Ishaku  has renewed call for state police as a panacea to the religious, ethnic and political conflicts ravaging the state in particular, and the country in general. What is your take, Sir?

Rev. Saredau: Honestly, I am entirely against the call for state police because the negatives far outweighs the positives. We look at the issue of funding. Where will the money come from? With state police we are going to deal with situation where the state governments will use police against their perceived enemies. We all know that this is not possible with a federally controlled police forces.

If the Nigerian police is a failure to state governments, why are they very useful to them during elections?

There has not been a state where the police forces fail to comply with lawful commands from state governors. It’s high time government at all levels respect the constitution of Nigeria and be open, transparent, and accountable in governance.

Sky Daily: Anything you want say, Sir?

Rev. Saredau: Like I said earlier the enemies of Taraba are within Taraba. They can be found within all tribes. In place of hatred and distrust, we should instead channel ourselves towards promoting  peace, love, and unity.

Sky Daily: Thank you very much for your time, Sir.

Rev. Saredau: you are welcome.