Leaders including Obasanjo, the Sultan, and CAN President Okoh urged Nigerians to embrace religious tolerance at a conference in Ibadan. They argued that peace requires love and mutual respect, linking Nigeria’s challenges to poor leadership and misunderstanding among faiths. Emphasizing collective responsibility, they called for justice and coexistence among all religious groups.
Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Most Rev. Daniel Okoh emphasized the importance of religious tolerance at a recent conference in Ibadan. They asserted that a unified Nigeria relies on mutual understanding and respect among its diverse religious groups.
The event, themed “The Love of the Good and The Love of the Neighbours,” was held in conjunction with the World Interfaith Harmony Week and attracted several prominent figures including Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who criticized the role of poor leadership in fostering religious intolerance.
Obasanjo reinforced that peace is unattainable without true love and collective responsibility among Nigerians to ensure harmony. Meanwhile, the Sultan’s representative highlighted that the nation’s issues stem from misunderstandings regarding religion and ethnicity, advocating for unity despite differences.
CAN President Most Rev. Okoh called for a commitment to love, compassion, and respect among every Nigerian to foster a peaceful coexistence. Further, Hon. Dogara lamented the current difficulties in promoting peace within societies that claim religious affiliations rooted in peaceful coexistence.
He argued that the lack of effective leadership is crippling progress, outlining that true leadership involves recognizing and addressing the needs of the society. He quoted, “everything rises and falls on leadership,” stressing the need for responsible governance to mitigate violence and injustice for all religions.
Dogara also claimed that a society cannot succeed merely by tolerating different beliefs but must actively strive for justice and respect for all, including those who do not subscribe to any faith.
The conference centered on promoting religious tolerance as a vital element for national unity in Nigeria, a country often challenged by ethnic and religious conflicts. Leaders in the Muslim and Christian communities highlighted the urgent need for collaboration between faiths to foster mutual respect. This gathering signals a broader interfaith initiative to address societal issues with a commitment to peaceful coexistence and understanding among Nigerians.
In conclusion, the call for religious tolerance echoed by leaders such as Obasanjo and the Sultan is critical for Nigeria’s unity. They believe fostering an atmosphere of understanding is a collective responsibility that can mitigate the challenges posed by religious and ethnic differences. The emphasis on leadership’s role in addressing societal issues also underlines the need for accountable governance in promoting peace.
Original Source: www.arise.tv
