Forgive me to say that at a time that our nation is troubled by ethnic and religious disputes, farmers/herdsmen crises, Niger-Delta Militia amongst many more that has been slowing down economic progress and most importantly, our peaceful coexistence as a united Nigeria. It is indeed important to look forward on how best to “FIX IT” …Although, the current administration under the leadership of President Buhari had tried to put an end to insecurity problems but with little positive results to show. Could it be that the President and his security team have been busy fighting shadows and NOT tackling the main CAUSE of insecurity in the land?

As progressive Nigerians, our main concern is to see a peaceful and United Nigeria free of conflicts and insurgency… However, haven made investigations on post democracy conflicts across the nation and how leaders tackled such, it came to a conclusion that no leader had been so resolute with time towards promoting peaceful coexistence not only in his region or state but the entire nation as SEN. AHMED MAKARFI (SAM) who was governor of Kaduna state from 1999-2007, Senator representing Kaduna North from 2007-2015, and of course the immediate past National Caretaker Committee Chairman of Major opposition PDP.

Sen. Ahmed Makarfi had earned himself a reputation for peace and of course he’s Kaduna state’s “Apostle for Peace” following his achievements in maintaining calmness and his fearless and rational way of maintaining security, law and order across the state. SAM was able to contain religious disputes during his administration as governor –Although he faced an impossible challenge, to be sided enough to satisfy his fellow Majority and most rational enough to reassure the minors. SAM believed he never ran to be governor for the Hausa majority, he ran to be the governor of the entire Kaduna state and he happens to be Hausa/Islam majority. I believe he needed to become a force for healing in the state after religious clashes that claimed many lives and properties, and finding the right way to do that was something HE ACHIEVED!

Since the 2000 riots, SAM initiated reforms to reduce ethnic and religious tensions, including introduction of a modified version of sharia, to try and accommodate feelings of both religious communities. Under the system which became operational on 2nd November 2001, the Muslim legal code will only apply in predominantly Muslim areas while canon or customary law will rule in areas inhabited by Christians and non-Muslims.(IRIN 22 November 2001, ‘Nigeria: Focus on tension between communities in Kaduna state’)

While addressing the Nigerian supreme council for Islamic affairs (NSCIA) in Kaduna, September 17, 2001. MAKARFI DECLARED: “None of us has the right to take another person’s life no matter the motivation, when one decides to take innocent lives in that way and manner, it should be known that it was not a war. Even in war, life is sacred, especially where you have innocent people.”

To further deliver the message for peace, even across the borders of Kaduna state, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi embarked on a mission –following the effects of crises that affected businesses and diplomatic relations with other states. He toured across the nation preaching the need for unity, peaceful coexistence and further apologized on behalf of the state. For the first time in Nigeria, had any governor made a giant step as such! –in fact, On his arrival to the palace of the Tor Tiv Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula in Gboko, Benue state, the King praised Makarfi’s doggedness by saying “Governor Makarfi has made history, and that history will be followed until we realize our dream of a great Nigeria”.(EG, The Makarfi Legacy, 2004)

In conclusion, there is no dispute that SAM had proved himself over and over again to be one of the few men in our country endowed with great ideas to be able to turn things around for good. Truth be told, our nation had been through major conflicts, uprising, attacks and reprisals, insecurity leading to a day by day raising death tolls in thousands and getting to hundreds of thousands with displaced persons in hundreds of thousands, maybe millions. Here is a leader who has restored a People’s Democratic Party from the worst crises since founded in 1998 and saw through a well-organized elective convention… We therefore believe -there is no better person with more leadership experience, integrity and acceptability that is capable of restoring peace, justice, transparency, equality, tolerance and democracy in Nigeria today other than Senator. Ahmed Muhammed Makarfi.

God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!



Dogara Unyem Caesar
- (National Rep’, Youths Support Advocates for PDP (YSAP))
- (Member, Senator Ahmed Makarfi (SAM) Media, Kaduna State)


https://pdpysap./2018/02/18/makarfi-reputation-for-peaceful-coexistence-dogara-caesar-19-02-18/