The Nigerian Government has been challenged to do more in tackling the protracted insecurity ravaging the country.
The co-Chairman Nigerian Inter-religious Council NIREC and President General Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, who is also the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar threw the challenge during the 2nd quarterly meeting of NIREC held in Abuja, Nigeria with the theme ‘Ethnic Religious and Political profiling is avoidable’.
He said that as a voluntary organization of Muslim and Christian leaders, “NIREC is worried with the way things are in the country” and called for sustained prayers from Nigerians.
According to the Sultan, religious leaders, must continue to talk to to the political leaders and reminds them where necessary of the needs and desires of Nigerian people.
“Muslim and Christian leaders, we must continue to remain united and continue to dialogue for unity, peace and development. I believe in dialogue, let’s continue to dialogue”. The Sultan added.
On his part, his counterpart the President of Christian association of Nigeria CAN Reverend Samson Ayokunle who also condemned the level of insecurity in the country, described it as a night mare and urged on the Nigerian government to take the issues of security more seriously.
The Christian leader also charged the federal government to create employment opportunity for the unemployed youths as doing so will reduce youth restiveness.
“Address the problem of mass unemployment. Government must take definite steps to create employment in the country.” Ayokunle said.
Reverend Ayokunle also challenged the government to prosecute criminals whenever arrested to serve as deterrence to others.
He called on the government to address the current inflation in the country and corruption.
Secretary to the Nigerian government Mr Boss Mustapha represented by the Permanent Secretary General Services Mr. Maurice Nnamdi said, “the level of insecurity in Nigeria today is so high that religious and traditional rulers must assist the government to usher in peace.”
“In every ethnic group, there are good people and there are criminal elements. While the leaders in each ethnic group should caution their children, religious leaders should publicly reject the ideology of those who claim to be kiling in the name of religion by giving a counter narrative.” The SGF cautioned.
He said, Nigeria today calls for the deepening of political and religious collaboration at all times pointing out that, “as a body, we must continue to build an environment where prejudice, intolerance, violence and other vices will remain alien to our culture and practices.”
“We must continue to expose our children to the rich and good values that Africa represents. We must continue to live together and pursue the common good as a community”. The SGF said.He said,the Federal Government of Nigeria would continue to give all necessary support to Religious and Traditional Leaders to promote peace and unity in the country.
“It is high time we called criminals by their proper names without profiling their religion and tribe from the name they bear. We must reject the narrative of those who are predicting war for the nation. By the grace of God, we shall overcome these challenges.” The SGF prayed.
In a goodwill message Governor Simon Lalong of plateau State and chairman Northern Governors forum challenged Nigerian leaders to put humanity above political, ethnic or religious differences.
He also called on Nigerians to avoid attaching sentiment to criminality, saying, “criminals must be profiled as criminals because no religion encourage criminality.”
In a remark, the executive secretary NIREC Rev Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua said that Nigerians need a change of attitude and values.
He also appealed to Nigerians not to allow tribe and religion to be a source of division.
He urged the media to be honest in their reportage, saying, “the media ought to source news based on truth that promote common well-being.”
“We must avoid using the media as a brain washing machines to manipulate the readers and listeners. Unfounded sources in media coverage can lead to war because ‘until the lion learns to write; the story will always glorify the hunter’.”
Ime N
