This was the end product of a three-day conference in Abuja with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, National President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev (Dr) Samson O. Ayokunle and other prominent leaders from both religions in attendance.
At the conference, the Sultan, who is the leader of Muslims in Nigeria called on religious leaders to teach their adherents to embrace peace and eschew violence as no nation can survive a war carried out in the name of religion.
Speaking at the end of a three-day conference, jointly organized in Abuja by the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) and the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and in partnership with the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) said: “we have no option, but to live in peace. Our religious leaders must teach their followers on the need for peace. We cannot continue to live in violence and bloodshed and expect development.”
According to a communiqué signed by the Nigeria Country Expert, Joseph Tank Atang, “the Director General of KAICIID International Dialogue Centre and Institute for Peace and Conflict resolution, (IPCR), Mr Fahad Abualnasr and Professor Oshita O. Oshita respectively, applauded the commitment of participating religious leaders in charting the path of interfaith unity, which is critical for peace, security and sustainable development. They thanked their Eminences, the Sultan of Sokoto, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other religious leaders for honouring the invitation and for their effective participation.”
The CAN President, Rev Samson O. Ayokunle, in his closing speech, bemoaned the insurgency in the country, just as he called for peace among Nigerians across religious faiths, adding: “when I was elected CAN President, I wrote to the Sultan and told him of the willingness of CAN to work with Muslims in order to promote peace in the country. Lack of trust and mutual understanding must be dealt with. There are more common issues that unite us than issues that divide us. In the atmosphere of destruction, there will be no progress from both sides. We must seek for peace and attain it for the development of our country.”
In a statement read by Ambassador A. U. Bako, the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, commended KAICIID, IPCR, IMC for organizing the event. The minister noted that the country cannot achieve peace in an atmosphere of conflict. She called on Nigerians to leverage on the nation’s diversity as a resource for development.
KAICIID Senior Advisor, Professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer, commended participants for their genuine engagement throughout the three-day engagements. He expressed hope that the conference has provided the springboard for improved religious understanding, saying, “I am happy that this conference has provided a platform for genuine interaction among participants. I hope the gains of this engagement will continue to manifest in promoting peace among Christian ad Muslims in Nigeria.”
At the end of the conference, participants resolved to:
· promote interfaith platforms for religious scholars and leaders;
· foster religious freedom;
· partner with media to promote conflict-sensitive reporting on religion;
· explore legislative and other measures to curb hate speech;
· create opportunities for increased interfaith education: and
· work towards removing discrimination, among others. [myad]
