*MAKARFI_LEGACY: PEACE AND SECURITY IN KADUNA STATE (PART 1)*


When the Makarfi’s administration came into being in 1999, it inherited several peace threatening problems, some of which had in fact led to violent eruptions in the past. The most sensitive of these was the bottled up tension and mutual disrupt arising from accusations of dominations of one section of the state by the other, particularly as it related to traditional institutions and their headship vis-à-vis complaints of domination as well as the uneven distribution of physical and other infrastructure. Agitations for self-determination by various communities were reaching a crescendo. The government therefore decided to confront and address the issue so that an enabling environment for development could be engendered. At the end of the day, additional chiefdoms and 342 districts were created and developments have largely been evenly distributed across the state thereby substantially silencing the cries of marginalization and neglect.  

The Makarfi government of Kaduna state also was quick to rise to the occasion when crises erupted as a result of the clamor for and against the establishment of the sharia legal system. Given the multi-ethnic and multi-religious nature of the state and seemingly uncompromising positions adopted by both sides of the debate, government had to decisively wade in by coming up with a legal/judicial system that took the complexion of the state into account, such that both Muslims and Christians and in fact traditionalists have all been afforded a system that enables them adjudicate according to their beliefs and customs, within the confines of the provisions of the nation’s constitution. The tripartite legal system introduced by the Kaduna state government, which is now being studied by several other states provides for sharia for Muslims and the customary court for non-Muslims as well as retaining the existing common law system. It has gone a very long way in giving all sections of the state a sense of belonging. In addition to this, a consultative committee chaired by Ahmed Makarfi himself, consists of Muslim and Christian religious leaders from all parts of the state, as well as heads of security agencies. It meets regularly to discuss and nip in the bud, potential peace breaching problems. A high point of the rapprochement between adherents of the Muslim and Christian faiths in the state was the production of the document on religious peace and understanding signed by prominent Islamic and Christian leaders in the state.

Makarfi’s government has also created two bureaus for religious affairs, one each for Muslim and Christian matters, under the governor’s office and each handed by the permanent secretary to coordinate the activities of the two religions and liaise between them and the government in order to endanger the harmonious coexistence and greater understanding.

The government also ensured that the security agencies operating in the state, though federally controlled, are given the necessary logistical and other assistance to enable them effectively provide security to the people. The state government has apart from other assistance, purchased and distributed to security agencies in the state a number of vehicles to ease their operations.




*#Makarfi_And_The_Dividends_Of_Democracy*

dogara.ud01@gmail.com
07019975766
www.nyp.com.ng

https://pdpysap./2018/07/01/makarfi_legacy-peace-and-security-in-kaduna-state-part-1/