American University of Nigeria

A visit to Adamawa Governor Murtala Nyako and the Lamido Adamawa, Dr. Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, topped the agenda of discussions at the Adamawa Peace Council meeting held on June 22, at the AUN main campus.

The proposed visits were prompted by the news of renewed violence in the northern states of Kaduna and Yobe on June 17, which was widely circulated by the news media.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Ahmed Joda, the AUN Board of Trustees Chairman, said the events of June 17 clearly showed that, “Not all is well in the north.”

More importantly, AUN is situated in the north east, and everyone must be aware of the current situation. “We cannot identify those behind the attacks, we don’t know who is behind them, or who finances them…so this is a very difficult situation,” he observed.

As important as security had become in the country, Mr. Joda said it is necessary to meet with the state government and those relevant security agencies in the state, in order to prevent any further violence. The parley with Governor Nyako is expected to review the issue of security in the state, and share concerns of the council.

The APC, he observed, will follow up on this meeting with another round of discussion with the Lamido Adamawa. They will discuss ways to promote cooperation regardless of faith. He said the meetings with the Governor and Lamido will be followed by a visit to the State Commissioner of Police and State Security Service.

Mr. Joda told members of the Council that the issues in the north were not religious ones, since every Nigerian, irrespective of affiliation, was now fully involved.

Other issues discussed at the meeting include the planned Peace Education Curriculum which is part of the ICT Training for youth in the communities. The training has already commenced at the AUN ICT Center with the first batch of 29 students, so the council nominated 4 members to partner with Ms. Meagan McKee, AUN’s Coordinator of Advising who is trained in Peace and Conflict Resolution, to develop learning points for the new curriculum.

The Council also condoled with the Igbo community in Adamawa over the loss of their kindred in the attacks of May 28.