COMMUNIQUÉ
AT THE END OF THE FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF AUTOCHTHONOUS ETHNIC
NATIONALITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS (CONAECDA) 2017
Held at Eliel center and green valley suites, Jos
Plateau state from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th November
2017
PREAMBLE
The conference of community leaders which holds
annually commenced on 2nd with the arrival and registration of
delegates. The 4th CONAECDA had as its theme, Unity in diversity the roles and challenges of the autochthonous ethnic
communities.
In attendance at the opening ceremony were delegates,
dignitaries and observers, the Executive Governor of plateau State represented
by His deputy in the Person of Prof. Sonni G. Tyoden declared the conference
open. In his speech, he called on delegates to work together for unity and to
commit themselves to the values that will build a vibrant Nigeria. He also
cautioned against the use of ethnicity and identity politics as tools to divide
the people but call on the conference to use the CONAECDA platform to harness
and utilize our ethnicity and diversity towards creating a culturally rich and
united country.
In his remarks, the Tor Tiv represented by the Ter Tiv
Plateau State Chief Peter Aper, called on the secretariat to always be
transparent and carry the people along as the Tiv saying goes; “ He who roasts
yam for a blind man should be whistling to assure the blind man that he is not
eating his yam.” He also assured the
participants of his continued support towards the attainment of the noble
objectives of CONAECDA.
The key note address which was to be delivered by His
Excellency General Yakubu Gowon was delivered by the National Coordinator of
CONAECDA, Dr. Z.K.A. Bonat. In the key
note address the speaker highlited the vital role minorities play in keeping Nigeria
together, he identified minorities as the unifying force in Nigeria and called
on the delegates to produce to produce a blue print that will ensure the
preservation of our rich diversity while ensuring our unity.
The conference secretariat presented its annual report
which was received and adopted. The conference also received reports from
various states and some communities that make up conaecda. Position papers were
presented covering various areas and discussed.
Following deliberations the Conference carried out the
following resolutions.
RESOLUTION 1:
NATIONAL UNITY
Conference observed that Nigeria as a multi ethnic
Multi nation state has failed in recorgnising tis distinctive Nature. This is
due in part to;
a.
Pre-colonial,
colonial and post colonial narratives that seek to diminish or destroy ethnic
identities and to replace it with a false Nation State Identity.
b.
Policies and
constitutional provisions that have failed to clarify citizenship, residency
and Native( indigene) rights and responsibilities.
c.
A faulty federal
structure.
d.
Lack of good
governance.
e.
Primordial
tendencies and latent animosity among Nigerians.
f.
Non Justifiability
of rights.
g.
Lack of recognition
of Minority and indigenous peoples rights.
h.
Lack of fairness
and justice among the component ethnic nationalities of the Nigerian State.
Conference therefore resolves as follows:
1.
That we remain
committed to the Unity of Nigeria and shall resist any attempt to dominate,
subjugate, exterminate or forcefully assimilate us by any group in the Nigerian
Federation.
2.
That we are
committed to the preservation of our independence and rights, and will work
together with all ethnic Nationalities who share our values in promoting
national cohesion, justice and equality among all Nigerians.
3.
That we are
committed to work with all Nigerians and the international community to build a
vibrant Nigeria where every Nigerian is respected and every ethnic group recognized
and empowered to maintain their identity and develop their communities and cultures.
4.
We therefore
agree to set forth the following as our demands and recommendations towards
national unity and development.
i.
Nigerians should
work to stop the genocidal attacks on northern minorities
ii.
We demand a Review of the land use act
iii.
We demand that Communities
should have reasonable control over natural resources on their land.
iv.
We support the
2014 national conference recommendation to create new states
v.
We call for
control of land grabbing in the middle belt.
vi.
We call on
government to address environmental degradation
vii.
We demand a stop to
the attacks against our traditional institutions and a guarantee of their
dignity in light with UNDRIP
viii.
We demand that government
address violations of religious rights and the establishment of a religious
rights enforcement agency by government.
ix.
We need to address
the challenges of corruption
x.
We demand that
government make Justiciable human rights
xi.
We demand Government
to be neutral on religion.
xii.
We demand the
full implementation of national policy on education on use of mother tongue and
related cultural matters
xiii.
We demand that government
address the injustices to the FCT Natives
xiv.
We demand a clear
distinctions on Citizens, indigenes and residence rights
xv.
We demand
Constitutional provisions for Minority and Indigenous peoples rights.
xvi.
We recommend improved
security by Multi-tier policing
RESOLUTION 2:
RURAL BANDITRY AND CONFLICTS WITH HERDSMEN
Conference observed with dismay the increase in
conflicts affecting our rural communities and resulting in deaths, injuries and
material loss to rural dwellers, farmers and herders.
Conference therefore resolves as follows:
1.
That we support
the gradual and strategic control of open grazing and its eventual replacement
with ranching as was done in North and South America, in Europe and other
advanced nations in response to development and violence experienced by farmers
and herders.
2.
That we
sympathize with and extend our condolence to all who lost loved ones in the
conflicts, this is especially to those in Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Plateau,
Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi and many other States. Accordingly;
a.
We sympathize we
the Iregwe for the loss of over 100 live in the span of a week and wonder how
the one of the host communities to the 3rd Armoured division of the
Nigerian Army can be subjected to a weeklong massacre without the knowledge of
the security agencies knowing that such militias are operating within their
vicinity.
b.
We condemn in
totality the lopsided response of the government to the Farmers herders
conflicts.
c.
We demand that
the government put a stop to this wanton destruction of lives and properties of
Nigerians.
d.
Conference hereby
restates its position that communities reserve the moral and legal rights to
defend themselves and to protect their lives and communities.
3.
That we support
the peoples of Benue and Taraba states in their effort to resolve violent
conflicts through control and modernization of animal husbandry as embodied in
the open grazing prohibition laws.
RESOLUTION 3:
PEOPLES’ HISTORY PROJECT
Conference observed the unfortunate but deliberate
distortions of ethnic Minority history, the destruction of historical materials
and the poor documentation and preservation of the history of Minority ethnic
nationalities.
Conference therefore resoles as follows:
1.
That a people’s
history of all ethnic groups be written by the ethnic groups and documented by
CONAECDA in starting from January 2018 to December 2023.
2.
That CONAECDA
shall establish archives and libraries for the documentation and preservation
of historical materials and documents.
RESOLUTION 4:
RELIGION
Conference observed the unfavorable abuse of religion
as a divisive tool among its member communities.
Conference therefore resolves as follows:
1.
To put in place a
committee on religious relationships.
2.
To hold periodic
religious conferences that will bring together religious leaders across the
various faiths.
RESOLUTION 5:
FUNDING OF CONAECDA AND ITS PROGRAMMES
Conference observed the financial challenges involved
in running its secretariat and programmes, conference having received the recommendations
of the North east Community interventions programme on funding hereby resolves
as follows:
1.
That a Community
development contribution of a minimum of 100 Naira payable by all adult
autochthons annually is hereby instituted.
2.
That a community
intervention and development fund is hereby established.
3.
That a general
and special funds under the CIDF is hereby established to cover the following
areas.
a.
North East
Community Fund/ Community interventions Fund
b.
Languages
Development Fund
c.
Community
Development Fund
d.
Investment Trust
Fund
e.
Fund for Minority
and Indigenous Peoples Rights
f.
Governance and
Leadership Development Fund
4.
That the month of
March every year shall be the CONAECDA fundraising Month and shall be observed
internationally.
RESOLUTION 6:
ROYAL AMBASSADORS
Conference in line with its resolution in CONAECDA
2016 to engage appropriately with the traditional institutions hereby resolve
to establish and appoint traditional rulers into the following offices.
1.
The Royal
Ambassador on Languages
2.
The Royal
Ambassador on Community Development
3.
The Royal
Ambassador on Minority and Indigenous peoples rights
4.
The Royal
Ambassador on the North East interventions.
The conference was concluded with a prayer for
National Unity at the COCIN Headquarters Church on Sunday 5th having
planned the same prayers for Ansaar-u-deen Cetral Mosques on Friday 3rd
November 2017.
Signed
Da Erickson Fom
Conference President
Dr. Z.K. A. Bonat
National Coordinator
Suleman A. D.
Sukukum
Conference Secretary
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