Kaduna: ZAMAN TARE Begins Intercultural, Interreligious Conference, Visits Mararaban-Rido Community

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA.

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA–  The Zaman Tare project of Caritas Nigeria has commenced her intercultural and interreligious conference with the Theme ” preventing Ethno Religious Conflicts in a Pluralistic Society” with special focus on 8 communities and 4 local government areas of Kaduna state.

The visit to Mararaban Rido on Tuesday afforded the Women/ Girls, Men/Boys of the community and other stakeholders to interact with the Zaman Tare Team to step down among other things the findings of a research on Segregated communities in Kaduna of which Mararaban Rido happened to be one.

The  Field Officer, Zaman Tare in Kaduna, Mr Innocent Madukwu,said ” we are in Mararaban- Rido as one of the Kick off communities for our intercultural and interreligious conferences across the communities,we are working on and basically we are working in 8 communities and 4 LGAs

“and the communities are Mararaban Rido, Kujama,Malali, Ungwa Rimu,Barnawa, Makera and Barkallawu across 4 Metropolitan local government areas of Kaduna state namely, Kaduna south, Kaduna north, Chikun and Igabi local government areas.” he added

According to him, they will be hosting two different segregated sessions to endear the groups to speak out ” we have one for the women and girls, for Men and Boys, the essence is we believe when we segregate the two gender they will be able to speak out and voice out their positions freely”

Adding that, it is also in compliance of the Covid- I9 guidelines,of not having over 50 persons in a sitting or event,saying ”  and looking at it, is more impactful, because it is  interactive” Adding that, the communities to be visited this week are Barkallawu and Makera before the next batch.

Describing the impact of the Zaman Tare project so far, ” Zaman Tare is a project that has gotten really deep, so deep, going deep into communities, going deep into the grassroot, because we use the bottom- top approach and you find out that every community you go you hear of Zaman Tare, it has become a household name and our slogan is ‘ Zaman Tare, sai da Zaman lafiya- Zaman lafiya sai da zaman Tare” he added

Similarly, Mr David Madami,while speaking on the findings of a research he conducted in 2019, sponsored by Zaman Tare on” Religious conflicts and settlement patterns of Christians and Muslims in Kaduna Township” said we looked at past crisis and its causes ” and we now looked at the segregated settlement patterns of Christians and Muslims in Kaduna Township off course which is affecting us negatively “

According to him, they had discussion with members of communities to get their views and what should be done,while describing the meeting a great success he called on government ” I think government should partner with CAFOD and CARITAS to support and sponsor them, this should be a government responsibility, not just for NGOs” he asserts

In the same vein, the Youth leader of Mararaban Rido ,Emmanuel Bature, while noting the success of the event pointed out that, this is not the first time Zaman Tare is visiting the community ‘ I think this is one of the strongest NGOs in our community, they have encouraged peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in the community ” he stressed

On her part, one of the women, Hajia Nana Idris said the meeting has been very impressive and encouraging while calling on religious leaders to preach the truth at all times and desist from distorting the messages of Holy books to preach division instead of tolerance and peace among the different religious faithful

In the same vein, Mrs Theresa Solomon advocated for interreligious Marriage between Christians and Muslims as the sure way to end this conflicts, she maintained that ” if we allow our children to marry themselves between Christians and Muslims, we will experience progress”

According to her ” if you know that you sister a Muslim or Christian is married out there you will not go and attack the family she is married to, so I believe marriage across different faiths especially Christians and Muslims irrespective is the only solution to these conflicts adding that with proper understanding a spouse can practice her or his religion in marriage.