Stakeholders across different backgrounds have demanded a radical shift towards promoting activities that foster harmonious coexistence and mitigate religious conflicts, decrying however participatory role of most religious leaders in acts that jeopardize religious tolerance and inter-faith dialogue in Nigeria.
The submission was made during one Day awareness programme organized by the National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC) the Kuka Centre (TKC) and Nasru-lahi-Fathiu Society(NAAFAT).
The programme tagged, “Mechanism to monitor freedom of religion and belief in Nigeria”, is geared towards promoting freedom of religion and belief amongst various faiths.
In her welcome address, the Project Coordinator, Hajiah Halimat Oyedele stressed that the programme was designed to increase the level of peaceful coexistence in the Country by addressing existing structural limitations and concerns.
She emphasized that the interaction is also targeted at promoting social cohesion and respect for freedom of region and belief, and prevent possible future violence in Nigeria.
“It aims at the promotion of changes in existing policies and ensure that existing laws and mechanisms promote social cohesion and respect of freedom of religion and belief, in addition, prevent possible future violations.
“The focus is on spreading a culture of respect of differences through targeted awareness raising activities on inter-religious dialogue and respect for freedom of religion and belief”.
On his part, Edo state chairman Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Barr. Asunogie Nurudeen, noted that everyone has right as provided in Section of the nation’s Constitution to profess any religion of choice without being compelled.
But he regretted that most religious leaders play participatory roles in acts that inimical to religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in society.
“We have been identified playing a participatory roles in the erosion of the very values in the creation of a peaceful and safe humanity as such, currently sketching the edge of destruction”, he said.
Also speaking, Country Representative, KAICIID,
Mr Joseph Atang,
warned that lack of freedom of belief, religion and tolerance would lead to conflict.
He stressed that peace building through inter religious cohesion and harmony remains the way out of religious conflict
In their various goodwill messages, the Director of Evangelism and Inter-Faith of Christmas Association of Nigeria CAN, Edo State Chapter, Mr Humphrey Iriabe, Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdufatai Enabulele and the State Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Mr Olumide Josumu, noted that religious tolerance and of belief was the only way to forestall conflicts amongst different faiths in Nigeria, urging Nigeria leaders to desist from using religion as weapon to dividing the people.
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