Shun violence, embrace peace, be religious tolerant, interreligious bodies tells Nigerians

Muslims and Christian leaders have charged their followers to shun violence, embrace peace and be religious tolerant for the betterment of the society and the country at large.

Leaders of the two religions made the call in Akure at the One-day Interreligious Dialogue Workshop organised by the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace in collaboration with Ibrahim Olalekan Shodehinde.

The theme of the workshop is: Empowering Religious and Community Leaders As Gate Keepers And Champions Towards Addressing Interreligious Conflicts, Peace Building and Conflict Management.

Alhaji Junaid Yunus, an Islamic cleric and social analyst, who was one of the guest lecturers said that time had come for Muslims and Christians to change their attitude of looking each other with animosity and suspicion.

While describing the country as multiracial and multicultural, Yunus, who is also a Special Assistant to Ekiti Government, urged adherents of the two religions to understand themselves and give respect to one another’s religions for peace to reign.

“There is no way we can have a unified society because the world is multidispline, multicultural and multiacial but the only thing achievable is to libe within the armbit of mutual understanding and respect.

“And let what we preach in our faiths materialise in the way we run our affairs, especially in governance.

“We have been having restiveness, especially in the northern part of the country where religion is taken to another realm of hatred and mutual suspicion,” he said.

Mr Valentine Agubi, HoD, Legal Department, Justice Development and Peace Centre, who charged Christian Faithfuls to see Muslims as their brothers, said that most of the ways of Christianity were not different from the ways of Muslims in term of their believe.

“We need to see ourselves as one because we are one before God. And when you see other person from the other side, see them as your brothers and sisters,” he said.

Alhaji Hakeem Yayi-Akorede, Chief Imam of Akure, while applauding the workshop, said that the dialogue would go a long way to address some misconceptions about the two religions.

 According to him, the time has come for adherents of both religions to tolerate themselves and show love and shun violence so that the country can move forward.

“There can not be peace in the society without sincere interreligious dialogue. Love is also very important in the society and we need to tolerate ourselves” he said.

Rev. Father Aslem Ologunwa, Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ondo State Chapter, said that Muslims and Christians do not need to fight themselves over religion, they should rather embrace each other.

Ologunwa, who was represented by Rev. Canon Victor Adeola, CAN State Assistant Secretary, said that Christians should employ Muslim faithfuls in their places of work and vise versa to put the society forward.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Ibrahim Shodehinde, a co-convener of the workshop, said the interreligious dialogue was to let people understand that there would be no peace in the community without peace among the religions adherents.

Shodehinde explained that Interfaith dialogue increases empathetic learning, encourages the values of peace , humanity and compassion that were inherent in all abrahamic faiths.

He said that one of the biggest challenges for contemporary society as a whole was violent abuse of religion that threatens peaceful co-existence everywhere.

 “I strongly believe that our religions are enriched with traditions with wich we can collaborate, such as making peace, protecting the environment, eradicating poverty and ensuring the human dignity of all.

“I can conveniently claim that our religious tradition have the necessary resources to overcome the religious conflicts that has almost become incessant in our nation.

“I want all of you to join me in saying if an individual is not a brother in faith, he is definitely a brother in humanity,” he said.