Lawan, Eminent Nigerians Canvass Peace, Unity

Lawan, Eminent Nigerians Canvass Peace, Unity

Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja

The President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan and other prominent Nigerians have tasked Nigerians to work for peace and unity of the country.

He made this call recently at an interfaith forum organised by the Methodist Church of Nigeria in Abuja to chart a way forward for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different faith.

The meeting was convened under a theme, “Building a Culture of Peace and Unity in our Country.”

Other eminent Nigerians, who spoke at the forum, include a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Prelate Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Kanu-Uche, among others.

Lawan, who was represented by Senate Minority Whip, Sen. Philip Aduda, stated that for any meaningful development to take place in Nigeria, Nigerians should learn to be religiously tolerant.

He said: “As leaders, we have again been painstakingly emphasizing the importance of peace and the benefits of unity considering how the elements are useful for societal, social, political and economic development.

On his part, Mustapha described the forum as a good one as it provides stakeholders opportunity to share ideas on how to foster unity, peace and religious tolerance.”

Also speaking, Senator Akpabio, who sent a representative, also spoke in support of what was canvassed as he said Nigeria’s unity is non negotiable and that Nigerians must do everything humanly possible to keep Nigeria together.

Ihejirika, rtd, who was the chairman of the occasion, said Nigerian elders must through their words and actions preach peace and love. He said they must also speak to the citizens to douse the current security situation.

“We must through our words and actions preach peace, love, compassion and unity. Power differences should not be a source of division and distrust but a source of unity, strength and tolerance to engender nation building.

“The security situation or the state of security challenge in the country should give any reasonable and patriotic Nigerian a sense of worry and concern. More worrisome is the occasional clamour for self determination by a few individuals within some ethnic groups in the country.

“There is no doubt that the current situation of unrest poses a serious threat to our unity and cooperate existence as a nation. As elders, community and religious leaders, we can contribute to the efforts of government by helping to shape the opinion and reasoning of the people especially our youths towards peace and unity in the country.” He added

He also used the opportunity to call on all patriotic Nigerians to add their voices to the call for peace and unity.

“Our role in building a culture of peace and unity transcends this gathering. I therefore wish to call on all patriotic and peace loving Nigerians to raise their voices and show concern in their various communities to support any initiative that could foster peace and security in our nation.”

Bishop Sunday Onuoha, in his keynote address said religious intolerance is responsible for the religious violence in the country.

“Intolerance among different religious adherents, yes, amongst adherents with supposed sense of absolute claims, is the reason for the violent outbursts and hostility towards others beliefs and the way and manner they choose to practice or express their religious cravings.

“In turn, these outbursts, violence and hostilities have had obvious effects on our peaceful co-existence as a people under God, our father and creator.

“Lack of tolerance towards other religions or a show of animosity towards persons of differing beliefs, because of a blind and fixated psychological delusion that one religion is ‘Pure” and the other is an ‘Error,’ has resulted variously in intra-religious disturbances, which occur between different denominations or sects; and inter-religious violence between adherents of different religious beliefs — and where has that led us? he asked.

Weighing in on the discussion, Prof. Felicia Etim averred that women must be allowed more freedom in the society as they are more potent peace builders.

A former Director, Legal Services, Defense Headquarters (DHQ), Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Sharfa rtd, said most of those who commit religious violence in the name of religion; do that due to ignorance, intolerance and impoverishment.

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, Fr. Prof. Cornelius Omonokhua said that most religious faithful do what they do as a result of lack of understanding of what the Bible or Qur’an prescribe.

Chairman, Planning Committee of the event, Lady Offon Akpabio, also lent her voice to that of the stakeholders, stating that Nigerians should be concerned about the levels of intolerance and biases, which beget instability and disunity in our dear nation.

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