From Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Associations (CONAECDA) has declared the last Thursday of every month as “Black Thursday” to highlight the value of human life and the need to protect Nigerians irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or social class.
The Secretary General of CONAECDA, Suleman A.D. Sukukum, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Jos on Monday on pressing national issues affecting member communities and the country at large.
According to him, the most significant issues confronting Nigeria are insecurity and developments surrounding the country’s electoral processes.
He noted that in recent months, there had been increasing attacks in Niger, Kwara, and Kogi states, describing them as a new frontier in the wave of violent killings affecting communities across the country.
Sukukum, however, stated that the situation was not entirely new, as attacks had continued in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, and other states.
Speaking on political inclusion, he said the Nigerian Constitution grants every citizen the right to contest political offices at all levels of government across the federation.
He explained that such rights are based on citizenship and not indigene status, stressing that non-indigenes across the country, including Plateau State, had contested and won elections into various political offices.
“Nonnatives are able to run and win political races only where they enjoy the confidence of the electorate. Plateau has produced nonnative political office holders, and it remains the constitutional right of citizens to elect natives or nonnatives,” he said.
He further stated that the President has no constitutional power to impose political office holders on any section of the country, including Plateau State.
CONAECDA expressed concern over what it described as the marginalisation of native populations by political leaders controlling political structures in some states.
The association called on affected communities to organise themselves democratically and reclaim political power through lawful means.
The group also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair, and credible elections nationwide.
Sukukum advised nonnatives living outside their ancestral homelands to focus on their constitutional rights as citizens, which he said are enforceable under Nigerian law.
The association also expressed concern over rising cases of rural banditry and terrorist attacks across the country and condoled families and communities that lost loved ones.
While expressing solidarity with the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies, CONAECDA commended their sacrifices but stressed that more efforts were needed to tackle insecurity effectively.
The group called on the President to ensure the rehabilitation of victims, reconstruction of destroyed communities, return of displaced persons, and protection of all citizens.
Sukukum further urged the Federal Government to acknowledge the existence of terrorist groups allegedly pursuing religious persecution and genocide.
He also appreciated the efforts of the United States government in supporting Nigeria’s fight against insecurity and called on the international community to hold the Nigerian government accountable for the protection of citizens.
The association expressed concern over reports of sacred hills and groves in parts of the Middle Belt being converted into grazing areas by some local and state governments.
According to him, such developments threaten sacred and historical sites and require urgent intervention from host communities, relevant federal agencies, and the international community.
He called for an immediate halt to what he described as the desecration of sacred sites.
On religious freedom, CONAECDA condemned the alleged abduction, forced conversion, and forced marriage of minors, describing the trend as alarming and unacceptable.
The association reiterated its call for the establishment of a Religious Rights and Equity Commission with powers to enforce religious rights across the federation.
It also commended the efforts of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and states that have domesticated the Child Rights Act, while insisting that more action is required.
As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, CONAECDA expressed concern over what it described as growing anti-democratic practices among some political parties and politicians.
The association noted that democracy requires active citizens’ participation and stressed that voters’ rights depend on political parties presenting credible candidates and electoral authorities ensuring that votes count.
CONAECDA appealed to politicians to abide by democratic rules and urged community leaders to play stabilising roles through voter education, candidate selection, town hall meetings, and election monitoring.
