Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa yesterday called for a peaceful and harmonious relationship among adherents of religions.
He said religion could peacefully co-exist with democracy.
Obasa spoke during the 14th Annual Hijrah Lecture organised by the House of Assembly at Alausa, Ikeja.
He described the lecture topic: “The role of Religious Bodies in a Democratic State,” as apt, saying it related to the problems the country was facing.
The speaker listed intolerance, terrorism and racism as the causes of crisis in the country.
He said democracy and religion co-exist.
“Religion is based on ideas and supreme reality, while democracy is based on laws and institutions,” he said.
A guest lecturer, Dr. Ishaq Sunusi, stressed that Islam was about peace, love, compassion, justice and understanding.
Islam, he said, encouraged people to promote virtue and tranquillity.
Justice Abduraheem Ahmad Sayi said the primary role of the prophet was to teach, educate, guide and emaciate the mind from the shackles of false and superstition beliefs, while the primary role and responsibilities of religious leaders was to step into the shoes of their predecessors or models.
The Chief Imam of Offa, Muhyid-din Salman Husayn, who was the third guest speaker, implored the government to look into the economic hardship faced in the country and urged those in high position to lend helping hands to one another, especially those in need.