Makarfi Warns On Ethno-Religious Crisis

Governor Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi of Kaduna State has threatened to use available government machinery to deal with any person or group using religious or ethnic sentiments to foment trouble in the state.

Ethno-religious conflicts had dominated Makarfi's first tenure in office, beginning with the violent Sharia riots of February and May 2000.

He said yesterday that government had to commit enormous resources to address issues arising from uprising. Makarfi reiterated his administration's resolve to tackle the matter headlong this time around, arguing that the legitimacy of his administration would depend on the ability to ensure the security of lives and property of the people.

"We have been beaten to more than once," Makarfi lamented, adding that the people must respect religious affiliations of others.

The governor made the declaration in an address he presented to members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

"We will ensure that the full weight of the law descends on anybody however highly placed, who tries to hide behind ethnic, religious or any other sentiments, to foment trouble," he warned.

"To this end, we are resolved to decisively check the excesses of any groups or individuals who for any reason try to threaten the peace and security of our state," Makarfi said.

He told the legislators that he would comply with a directive of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), regarding the monetisation of benefits and allowances of elected officials as well as other appointees.

He explained that: "it will enable government to further concentrate on the discharge of its onerous responsibility to the people, leaving individual officials to do as they wish with their entitlements.

The governor also announced the intention of his administration to introduce a number of economic programmes, including privatisation of government companies and reforms in the pension scheme.