By Chimezie Godfrey
The Sultan of Sokoto ,Saad Abubakar has declared that there is no war going on between Christians and Muslims,despite the differences and challenges. He also warned mischief makers and rumour mongers to desist from misinforming unsuspecting Nigerians.
He made this declaration while delivering a key note address during a General Assembly convened by Interfaith Dialogue Forum For Peace(IDFP) tagged ‘Living together, achieving together’ at Sheraton Hotel,Abuja,Thursday.
The Sultan thanked the Almighty God for making it possible for them to gather.”As a patron of this body, I will like to thank our brothers and sisters who traveled from far to Abuja.At least the world will know that there is no war between the Christians and Muslims.There is no difference between Christians and Muslims, he said.”
He encouraged leaders to always speak the truth to their people,He said ‘conscience is an open wound and truth can heal it’ that this is a time when leaders statements must say things that heals wound.He cautioned leaders against using religion to ignite violence among the people.”We love our religion,you cannot protect religion by killing people.The Almighty Allah is not weak, we cannot fight for him, he said.”
The Co-Chairman, IDFP, Bishop Dr. Sunday N. Onuoha, while delivering the opening remark said that there is no country,society, or even family without its challenges.Every society is celebrated or disgraced depending on how she manages her peculiar challenges.
“Nigeria went through a three- year civil war,and millions of lives were lost.Some of suffered starvation and homelessness.This war was avoidable,because if the first Aburi Accord did not stand,why didn’t we go back to Second Aburi which would have saved us from the senseless war we fought?
“Thank God for Gen. Yakubu Gowon who said that there was “No Victor and no vanquish”,and I pray that every Nigerian must be with such spirit and avoid treating any Nigerian or any group of Nigerians with disdain as though they do not belong to our commonwealth,” he said.
Bishop Onuoha, said that developed countries that are calling to assist us with equipments to fight the insecurity in our land are wondering how some groups operating in Nigeria manage to acquire such sophisticated weapons currently destroying poor people in many parts of the country, thereby giving ordinary herdsmen who have been living in peace with various communities very bad name.Why is it difficult to umask the root of this challenge?
He urged Nigerians to respect the sacredness of life and do everything we can to save lives irrespective of color,religion, language,culture or nationality, saying that every life is sacred in the presence of God.
Bishop Steven Dani Mamza, representing the Christian Association of Nigeria, said that CAN members at all levels are advocates of peace and peaceful co-existence among Christians and Muslims. He stressed the need for both Christians and Muslims to come together and speak in one voice.”We need to condemn whatever evil that is going on.
“We religious leaders deceive people, we say one thing and mean another thing .If somebody is killed in Benue,Sokoto,Kano, as religious leaders we should come out and condemn it. The problem is from us because we don’t mean what we say. We are not sincere,” he said.
The CAN president Rev. Oyekunle Samson, on his arrival hinted, “What I am getting all over ,,,is all about anxiety and tension as if something is about to happen.
“We can very much be able to handle what is on ground if we are sincere, and we mean what we say. The atmosphere is filled with hate speeches especially in the social media. We must be on guard,” he concluded.
