Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) is known, worldwide, for high standard excellence in the search for peace in every nooks and cranny of Nigeria, especially in the more volatile northern Nigeria where political and religious fanatics are enjoying a free platform to preach extremism and intolerance. The reputation of CITAD and the way its executive director Mallam Yunusa Zakari Ya’u is vigorously leading its hardworking staff, building and sustaining peace in the country that is passing through very turbulent times, transcend our expectations. The organization is not only working day and night in making Nigeria a peaceful paradise, it is also promoting digital participation of women by training them various courses in Information Technology and digital media.
There are fears from every angle that the “economic crisis, religious extremism and political tensions continue to manifest newer and graver danger” almost every day in Nigeria! There is an overwhelming sense that, if not with the intervention of CITAD and similar NGOs, things would go out of control. Though social media, Facebook and Twitter, was created with the purpose of connecting the world as a global village and as a way of creating friendship many users are now converting it into another platform with various cyber and hate crimes like cyber-terrorism and exchanging religious and political hate speeches. CITAD, with its Twitter handle and Facebook page, is curbing this trend by preaching tolerance and supporting peace-loving individuals by giving peace promoters prizes monthly. Some battalions of its staff, interns and volunteers are always online 24/7 reporting, curbing and countering hate speeches online.
As we are approaching another political battle, let’s work religiously and advocate peace to every perfection. Let no any hate-mongering self-loving kleptomaniac war-inducing individual hide behind the veil of tribe, region or religion to divide us or put us into his mechanical followers by manipulating our socio and politico-cultural milieu to his own advantage. CITAD is publishing books and pamphlets, hosting programs on radios, organizing conferences hither and tither and preaching on social media platforms in curbing political fanaticism and making us conscious of our rights to live peacefully as Nigerians first. Let no anybody manipulate us for his own personal whims by making us destabilize the volatile peace we are enjoying.
We have seen how war-torn us apart. We should not allow this to repeat again. Let’s be more careful when it comes to the heeding the voice of the self-loving politicians and religious extremists who want turn our country into a battlefield for their own personal interests. Peace is all that we want. It is only through peace and stability that a perfect development can be achieved. Syria, Yemen, and other countries where political tensions are at the worst level are a perfect example for us. Northeastern Nigeria, Mali and other countries where religious extremism brought worst experiences are not far from us.
After Islamic theology and philosophy, reading history and trends in violence are my greatest passion. Glueing my eyes on the pages of history full of wars, conflicts and violence is like watching a horror movie. The images of war-torn countries, the bloody conquests of Genghis Khan, the horrific pictures of World War II and the massacre and macabre that insurgence brought to our nation make me value peace and peace promoters. Everyone should join this campaign. Search for the peace, work for the peace, live for the peace, pay for the peace and be like YZ Yau.
Obituary: Another Imam Has Gone!
The brilliant and ingenious Imam Mansur Bebeji was my classmate at Government Technical College Kano, though from different departments, I was from RTV and Imam from RAC. After we were admitted into Bayero University, Kano, he went to study Electronics Physics and I Agricultural Engineering but we used to solve mathematical problems under trees and behind old campus university library together.
Imam left this negligible cosmic dot and went to meet his Lord in Heaven. He left many idiots like me trying to find the real meaning of our existence behind social constructs and dogmas. We will follow you one day, Imam. The meaning is there but we are wandering beings trying to find something in nothing. You, I believe, found it the day you met Him. Enjoy sitting close to the Throne while enjoying His closeness. Rest in peace while we rest in pieces. Fatiha for the deceased.
Mr Aliyu can be reached on twitter: @aliyussufiy
 is known, worldwide, for high standard excellence in the search for peace in every nooks and cranny of Nigeria, especially in the more volatile northern Nigeria where political and religious fanatics are enjoying a free platform.){kind=link}