A peace-building council, a fresh initiative of the American University of Nigeria, to restore communal harmony in Adamawa State, has been unfolded in Yola.The path-breaking meeting was convened at the instance of the AUN Board Chairman, Ahmed Joda and the university's President, Margee Ensign, following last week's unprecedented marring of the Adamawa State capital's long standing reputation as a bastion of peace in Nigeria's North-East. In attendance at the initiative tagged: 'Community Peace Council' were religious leaders, business men and government representatives from across the state, including representatives of the Lamido Adamawa, Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI) as well as those of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Others were representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service, Muslim-Christian Forum, the Muslim Council and the traders' associations.These groups jointly denounced the violent attacks in the Adamawa towns of Mubi and Jimeta, especially as the capital Yola has been reputed for peaceful coexistence from time immemorial. They also called for the culprits to be brought to book.Alhaji Joda said the dialogue was set up by the AUN, whose duty as a development university, was to help to solve the problems of the host community. 'We conceived this idea less than 24 hours ago,' he said and added that 'the university consulted with the key sectors of the immediate society and found acceptance to form a meeting to discuss the circumstance in which this society has found itself.'He said unlike AUN, most universities in Nigeria were isolated from the communities by reason of location, and observed that AUN was deeply concerned about the goings on in the state.'Most universities in Nigeria have been isolated and set up in virgin lands away from the communities,' he said. 'This university (AUN) was set up to be a part of the community; this is why we are deeply concerned when certain things disrupt the community.'AUN President said she received the news of the Adamawa violence with shock while in the United States. 'I care deeply about this community and so we're here at this table to contribute in any way that we can to this important country.'She identified poor communication gap as one of the huge challenges that must be overcome in order to achieve peace among the people. 'When there is this huge gap, rumors rule the day.'She urged the parties to confront key challenges with purpose even as the American University of Nigeria was willing to partner in making Yola a safe place. 'One of the ways we can contribute is by being a broker,' she said. 'We are here to ensure that Yola is a safe place where people can find peace, and have respect for one another.'Mallam Gambo Jika of JNI was of the opinion that the perpetrators of the crime were neither Christians nor Muslims within the Adamawa region. 'No religion in Nigeria accepts this. We have been living together and even inter-marry.
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