Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has credited the relative peace being enjoyed across the state to the unwavering commitment of religious and traditional leaders. According to him, their consistent efforts in fostering unity and easing communal tensions have been instrumental in the state’s peacebuilding successes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking at an interactive session with religious and traditional leaders in Kaduna on Monday, the governor emphasized that without their support, his administration’s efforts to foster lasting peace would not have been possible.

“If not for our religious leaders, we wouldn’t be celebrating peace in Kaduna today. They were the first to advise me when I took office, guiding me on how to unite the people and ensure tranquillity,” he said.

The session, part of the activities marking the second anniversary of his administration, was convened by the Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith under the auspices of the Kaduna Inter-Religious Dialogue on Peace, Unity, and Security Committee.

Governor Sani took the opportunity to caution against the political class’s recurring habit of only engaging religious leaders during election periods, often using religion to curry favour and harvest votes.

“We only seem to remember our religious leaders a few months before elections, using sentiments to win their support. That’s wrong,” he said. “We need your guidance now—not just during elections. Walk with us, hold us accountable, and help us build a better Kaduna.”

He hailed clerics as indispensable moral authorities and vital partners in governance whose roles go far beyond campaign seasons. He insisted that sustained collaboration with religious and traditional institutions is key to building trust, inclusion, and lasting peace.

Governor Sani noted that Kaduna’s homegrown peace model—which emphasizes dialogue, community ownership, and non-kinetic approaches—has already begun attracting national attention and replication in other states.

“Our peace model thrives on dialogue, trust-building, and inclusive engagement. It didn’t come from government alone. Its success belongs to four pillars: religious leaders, traditional rulers, local communities, and security agencies,” he explained.

He added that security operatives were deliberately given a supporting rather than leading role in the process, allowing community and faith-based structures to take the lead in resolving conflicts.

“No security intervention is deployed without first consulting stakeholders in the affected community. Peace must be locally owned and understood to be sustainable,” the governor said.

Highlighting progress since taking office in 2023, Governor Sani pointed to the restoration of peace in Birnin Gwari—a region once plagued by banditry—as evidence that the Kaduna model is effective.

“Today, thanks to God and your prayers, people can now travel to Birnin Gwari without fear. That is a significant achievement,” he declared, receiving nods of approval from those present.

Governor Sani also condemned political actors and social media influencers who, in his view, have made a habit of publicly ridiculing or attacking respected religious leaders for partisan gain.

“I’ve always said: if we allow our religious leaders to be disrespected and insulted, we risk losing not just our moral fabric, but our country itself,” he warned. “Ironically, the same politicians who vilify clerics online are the first to run to them for prayers when things go wrong.”