Communique of the Northern CAN after its Jos Summit

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY PEACE SUMMIT SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND SECURITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA AS A PANACEA FOR DEVELOPMENT: THE ROLE OF CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS ORGANISED BY THE CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (CAN) NORTHERN REGION AT CREST HOTEL, ALONG OLD AIRPORT ROAD, JOS, PLATEAU STATE, ON 27 & 28 AUGUST, 2018

Preamble:
Against the backdrop of the growing spate of insecurity in some states across the Northern Region of Nigeria, a Two-day Peace Summit was organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Northern Region on 27th-28th August, 2018 at Crest Hotel, along Old Airport Road Jos, Plateau State.
The three-fold objectives of the Summit include: Provide a platform to undertake a thorough assessment of the factors and scope conditions that sustains the wave of insecurity in the region and the role Church leaders can play in confronting this problem; Deliberate on and harmonize the viable and appropriate best practices for conflict prevention and mitigation in the 19 states of Northern Nigeria and the FCT Abuja; and Identify common ways and means to address and prevent these factors which have in the last few months amplified the growing wave of insecurity in Northern Nigeria for the most part in the States of, Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, Zamfara, Kaduna, Plateau and Nasarawa.
The theme of the Summit is “Sustainable Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria as Panacea for Development: The Role of Religious Leaders”. This is part of the broader effort of the Church in the Northern Region to facilitate an open and frank discussion among Church Leaders with a view to fostering a peaceful and stable region for development to thrive.
The two-day event was partly ceremonial and highly interactive. The technical session is divided into plenary (paper presentations), panel discussion and Interactive sessions (questions and answers). It was also expected to suggest proactive and realistic measures that would help to reduce or mitigate the spate of violent conflict and promote peace, and peaceful coexistence, and development in the Northern Nigeria.
The Peace Summit was attended by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); Executive Governor of Plateau State (Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong); Honourable Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Youth and Sports, and Labour and Employment; top government officials, Church Leaders, Women and Youth leaders that are drawn from the 19 States of the Northern Nigeria and the FCT (Abuja), as well as other brethren from the South-West.
Observations:
After intensive deliberations, the Summit observes as follows:
1. That the spate of ethno-religious attacks currently plaguing Northern Nigeria is a major source of concern to the Church and that the convening of the Peace Summit is timely and the theme is befitting in view of the devastating consequences of intractable violent attacks on communities across the region. Furthermore, participants observed the need to chat a way forward.
2. Participants condemned the recurrent wave of systematic violent attacks on helpless communities and other forms of insecurity in some communities in Northern Nigeria, which are regrettable and totally unacceptable. They also commiserate with the victims of the persistent violent attacks.
3. It was further observed that the impacts of protracted insecurities are stark and hugely devastating with several loss of innocent lives, physical injuries to bodies, destruction of properties worth billions of naira, destruction and displacement of many communities, burning and desecration of several Churches in unprovoked circumstances, psychological trauma, stalling of socioeconomic growth and development, as well as the entrenchment of deep seated mutual distrust and suspicion along ethno-religious lines.
4. That the incidences of violent conflicts and insecurities in the region have taken an ethno-religious dimension requiring the Church in Northern Nigeria to have a proactive and prophetic  vision for peace that take cognizance the multi-religious and multicultural realities of the country.
5. That the unique manifestation of the challenges of peace and security in Northern Nigeria is a broader national issue that has both terrestrial and spiritual dimensions which make it very complex to understand at the superficial level. As such there is the need for Christian leaders and the Church to have an in-depth understanding of the magnitude of the problem to be able to come up with realistic options to transforming the problems.
6. That the strategic role of the Church is fundamental in changing the negative course of our nation and placing her on the path of sustainable growth and development. The need for the Church to be proactive in addressing sensitive and critical issues that affects us directly or indirectly.
7. It was further identified by participants that some politicians and religious leaders have exacerbated and heightened the trends of violent attacks, violent conflict, mutual distrust, and resentment across the Northern Region. This is particular in the expression of hate and inflammatory speeches in the social media, other media and platforms.
8. That the institutionalization of religious supremacy is condemnable especially where government institutions are used to promote religious intolerance, injustices and marginalization.
9. That there is a seeming absence of an integrated policy response framework at national and sub-regional levels to tackle the peace and security challenges associated with the farmer-herder relations. Furthermore, that the Church and its leaders have not properly articulated the issues around Farmer-Herder violence through strategic thinking and conflict analysis.
10. Participants identified some of the structural challenges of poverty, unemployment, injustices, corruption, and marginalization as some of the push factors for the spate of violence in communities in Northern Nigeria. There seems to inadequate commitment towards job creation by the government and the Church.
11. The critical role of women in conflict management and peacebuilding especially as custodians of children and family has not been properly recognized and highlighted by the Church and the communities in Northern Nigeria.
12. That citizens, Christian leaders, and nongovernmental organisations have completely abdicated the responsibility of providing social welfare and security to government without complementing government efforts, where necessary.
Resolutions:
The following resolutions were unanimously reached:
1. Community Security and Safety: The summit resolved that kinetic approach towards curbing insecurity in region should be sustained and complemented by community and church vigilance and commitment. Participants further called for fairness, transparency and justice by security and law enforcement agencies in the discharge of their responsibilities.
2. Research and Documentation: Participants recommended that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) should place premium in research and documentation in order to take knowledge-driven actions and measures to the protracted challenges of peace and security in Northern Nigeria.
3. Cattle Grazing and Ranching: In view of the violent character of farmer-herder relations in recent time and the disadvantages of open-grazing of cattle, participants recommended that the ranching policy should be encouraged. There is need for proper Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment (PCIA) and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) before the implementation of the proposed Ranching framework. Indeed, government and critical stakeholder should engage communities through strategic advocacy and sensitization. There is also need for periodic review of the implementation of the policy.
4. Good Governance, Human Rights and Respect Rule of Law: In view of the clamor against hate speeches, marginalization, injustices, poverty and unemployment, there is need for the promotion of good governance at all levels, respect for human rights and rule of law.
5. Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation: There is a need for the government, church and indeed other critical stakeholders to vigorously tackle the challenge of unemployment and poverty through poverty alleviation initiatives through industrialization, skill acquisition schemes, loan schemes etc.
6. Trauma and Psychosocial Healing: There is a need for concerted commitment by government and the church towards the provision of trauma and psychosocial healing initiatives in communities affected by violent attacks. This is critical in curtailing the vicious cycle of violence within communities in Northern Nigeria.
7. Proper Conflict Analysis: The need for conflict analysis by the church and church leaders towards effective understanding of the complex trends and dynamics of violence in our communities was highlighted. Participants recommended for the institutionalization of the mechanism for sustainable peace, security and development.
8. Role of the Church in Building Trust and Confidence: There is need for the Church to unite in forging a common agenda that would promote sustainable peace, security and development. Christian religious leaders should begin the process of advocacy for conflict transformation and peacebuilding in Northern Nigeria and beyond. The pulpit should be used for preaching love, tolerance, solidarity and forgiveness to foster sustainable peace and reconciliation in Northern Nigeria.
9. The Role of Women in Conflict Management and Peacebuilding: Participants further resolved that youth and women as vulnerable persons during violent conflicts ought to be actively involve the processes of conflict management and peacebuilding. There is need for government and the Church to empower them by exploring other frontiers of social and economic activities that guarantee meaningful and legitimate means of livelihood to enhance peace and security in Northern Nigeria. The Summit further encourage the youth to concrete steps towards individual development and empowerment.
10. Promotion of Interfaith and Intra-Faith Collaboration and Dialogue: The summit identified interfaith dialogue and collaboration as a critical tool for conflict prevention and fostering mutual understanding, trust, confidence and mutual respect. It also encouraged participants to embrace interdenominational cooperation and collaboration among churches for unity in mitigating the risk for intra-religious conflicts. The summit agreed that respect for religious diversities is key in interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding.
11. Humanitarian Assistance and Resettlement: In view of the protracted violent attacks on communities in the region, participants recommended that government, the church and development partners should drive the processes of resettlement through reconstruction, reintegration, rehabilitation, demobilization and disarmament of the affected communities.
12. Sustainable Engagement: There is the need to sustain this process especially through the convening of a Socioeconomic Summit to further explore viable options for the empowerment of the most vulnerable groups within the church especially women and the youth.
13. Strengthening of Legal and Institutional Framework for Peace and Conflict Management: Participants urged government to strengthen existing legal and institutional framework for sustainable peace, security and development especially in Northern Nigeria. This include the need for the consideration on the decentralization of the Nigeria Police Force or the creation of an independent state police framework as a viable mechanism in tackling the complex challenge of peace and security in the region.
14. Constitution of Committee: There is need for the inauguration of standing committees such as a committee of think-tanks to draw up a comprehensive agenda; peace committee; reconstruction committee.
15. Christian Political Leaders: The Summit called on Christian political leaders to be faithful ambassadors of Jesus Christ in all areas of their public services by proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord.
16. Combating the Menace of Illicit Proliferation of small arms and light weapons and the rise of Violent Militia groups: In view of the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the emergence of violent militia groups, participants called on government to strengthen border and forest security and management across the Country.
17. Conflict Early Warning and Early Response: Participants recommended that government and the church should put in place mechanism for effective conflict early warning and early response system across the region.
Conclusion:
The participants at the Peace Summit commended the effort of the Executive Governor of Plateau State Rt. Hon Simon Bako Lalong towards creating a conducive environment to host the event as well as driving government effort towards peace and stability in Plateau State. It further commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha for conceiving the idea that eventually birthed the summit as well as other Christian political leaders who have remain steadfast. The Participants also lauded the CAN Northern Region for organizing the summit.