A Christian Cleric in Northern Nigeria, Pastor Yohana Buru has felicitated with the Muslim community on the celebration of the Eid al-Maulud marking the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
Pastor Buru who is the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry in Kaduna state, called on religious leaders to create a dialogue forum for discussions on religious and cultural issues in the country
He mentioned that his organization intends to visit Muslim clerics, Islamic Centers and other Islamic organizations across some states in Northern Nigeria.
“The visit tradition which began over a decade ago is to create effective mutual and peaceful coexistence cutting across ethno religious beliefs of different faiths in Northern Nigeria,“ added Pastor Buru
According to him, there are plans to visit more than a hundred Islamic clerics and organizations to promote interfaith and mutual understanding during this year’s Eid al-Maulud period within Kaduna state and other neighbouring states in the region.
” We visit Islamic learning centres, Mosques and homes of notable Islamic clerics during Muslim festivities like the Maulud, Ramadan and other Muslim festivities to discuss burning and developmental issues in our communities.“
Pastor Buru, who added that the mission has been a success for over a decade both in Nigeria and other West African countries, stated that they were able to unite and reconcile communities ravaging on ethno religious conflicts and also mediated on farmers-herders misunderstanding across some states in North Central Nigeria.
“I started the mission 25 years ago in Jos plateau state in North Central Nigeria, by interacting with Muslims neighbours and relations within our communities with a view of settling some misunderstanding among us and later moved to other parts of the region due to high level of political and ethno religious sentiments.“
Pastor Buru who was satisfied with the success achieved by his organization in uniting communities specifically in Northern Nigeria, urged the Government and faith-based organizations on the need to explore more avenues of conflict resolutions amongst communities ravaged by crises of banditry, ethno religious crises and other related issues in efforts of bringing lasting solutions.
While urging Muslims across Nigeria on the need of using the Maulud occasion toward praying for peace stability and unity, Pastor Buru said his members and other like minds have already started sending congratulatory messages to Muslim scholars in the country with the aim of felicitating for the Maulud celebration, so as to promote better understanding, religious tolerance, peace, love and unity.
The General overseer recalled that he had visited countries in West Africa, Europe and the Middle East in his mediation, reconciliation and interfaith programs.
“Over the years my Church has witnessed thousands of Muslim faithful during Christmas and Easter festivities from states in Northern Nigeria.“
PIAK
