Chairman of Jema’a local government area of Kaduna State, Peter Tanko Dogara, has said his administration is implementing Governor Uba Sani’s peace, unity and reconciliation agenda.
Dogara dismissed allegations by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) accusing him of bias and obstruction of justice in handling recent security incidents in Southern Kaduna.
MACBAN, in a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Abdulhamid Musa Albarka, had urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to institute a judicial panel of inquiry into the killings in Southern Kaduna and overhaul the operations of security formations, particularly “Operation Safe Haven”, which oversees peacekeeping in the area.
The association also appealed to Governor Uba Sani to suspend Dogara, accusing him of promoting ethnic hostility and undermining peace efforts in the council area.
Reacting yesterday, Dogara described the allegations as false, malicious and capable of heightening tension. “Our focus as a council is to strengthen peaceful coexistence among all communities in Jema’a.
We have worked closely with security agencies, traditional rulers, and youth groups to sustain the peace we’ve built,” Dogara said.
He commended Governor Sani’s leadership in uniting the state, saying, “We are committed to supporting his peace agenda. No amount of propaganda or blackmail will distract us from that responsibility.”
Dogara said his administration had prioritized conflict prevention and community engagement since assuming office, leading to a notable reduction in violent clashes in the area.
“I have held several peace dialogues with the MACBAN leadership in Jema’a on ways to prevent the recurrence of such ugly incidents” he said.
“The council also visited affected families and convened peace meetings with stakeholders, including the Fulani and other ethnic groups, where all parties resolved to live in peace,” Dogara added.