Osinbajo calls for justice and unity to resolve conflicts in North-central

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for justice, accountability, and real reconciliation to tackle ongoing conflicts and social divisions in Nigeria’s North-central region.

He spoke on Monday at a conference organized by the Justice Research Institute, in partnership with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), in Kuru, Plateau State.

Mr Osinbajo said lasting peace needs governments, religious leaders, political elites, and civil society groups to work together to rebuild trust in communities affected by years of violence.

The conference, themed "Countering Polarisation and Rebuilding Civic Cohesion in North-Central Nigeria: Beyond Tribe and Faith, Reclaiming Our Shared Stories," brought together various stakeholders to discuss practical ways to heal divisions and restore peaceful living.

Mr Osinbajo mentioned that rebuilding social cohesion needs a conscious change in how people see themselves and how they relate to others across ethnic and religious lines.

“Let’s go back to being brothers and sisters again, and that orientation must be an intentional thing,” he said. He emphasized that uniting divided communities needs deliberate action from the government.

He pointed to South Africa and Rwanda as examples. He said countries that faced serious violence could rebuild relationships through strong leadership and ongoing reconciliation efforts.

He spoke about the 1994 Rwandan genocide, where many people, mostly Tutsis, were killed. He said Rwanda’s post-genocide reconciliation showed how important political commitment is in rebuilding social ties.

“I think there’s a need for deliberate reconciliation and peacebuilding, and that can only be done by the government in collaboration with civil society groups and religious leaders,” he said.

He added that political and religious leaders, along with civil society organizations, must promote unity. Governments must also show the will to tackle the root causes of conflict.

Mr Osinbajo warned that reconciliation will be tough without justice and consequences for wrong actions.

He said victims of land grabbing and other forms of dispossession should have their properties returned, and compensation should be given when necessary.

“For instance, if you look at the land-grabbing situation, the lands have to be returned to those from whom they have been taken. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

He noted that not restoring victims’ losses would leave issues unresolved and weaken efforts to rebuild trust in communities.

“Similarly, there must be a penalty for wrongdoing, and our justice system... requires urgent attention,” he added, calling for improvements in how justice is administered.

In his welcome address, the Director-General of NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo, encouraged participants to engage in discussions with open minds and without bias.

Mr Omotayo said the conference should lead to practical recommendations to improve relationships and ensure a peaceful future for communities in the North-central region.

The conference chairman, the Emir of Lafia, Sidi Bage, a retired justice, also called for discussions that would lead to meaningful solutions, promote justice, and address the root causes of conflicts.

Mr Bage urged participants to embrace new ideas and recognize their shared duty in building peaceful communities.

The co-chairman and Secretary-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Khalid Aliyu, said rebuilding civic cohesion remains tough in some areas, partly due to misleading messages from some religious leaders.

Mr Aliyu stressed the need for responsible religious leadership to promote understanding, tolerance, and peaceful living.

The conference focused on ways to counter ethnic and religious division and rebuild trust in the North-central region, which has seen ongoing communal violence and long-standing tensions among communities.