An Islamic scholar Imam Nurain Ashafa, has called on religious leaders to rescue Nigeria from its myriad of challenges, especially insecurity.
Ashafa made the call in Kaduna yesterday during a one-day Interfaith Dialogue on Preventing Violent Extremism in Kaduna State, organised by ActionAid Nigeria and Global Peace Development.
The project, which is going to be implemented in Kaduna and Kano for the next four years, is in pursuance of the “System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism” (SARVE III) Project.
Ashafa, who is the CEO of Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna State emphasised that religious leaders remain the saving grace for Nigeria, in the face of the failure of the security apparatus to successfully tackle insecurity.
He said the religious leaders must swing into action by working tirelessly to instil the consciousness of God in people, with a view to rebuilding a Nigerian society where everybody becomes their brother’s keepers and where leaders rule with the fear of God.
He noted that only religious leaders can play such a role, as the rich and the poor, as well as the leaders and the led, depend on the religious leaders for spiritual guidance.
On the SARVE III Project, Mrs Chat Sunday Adamu of Global Peace Development said the meeting was considered imperative for the furtherance of peace and harmony in Kaduna State in the face of the security challenges in the state and ahead of the 2023 general elections.
She said Kaduna and Kano states were selected for the project due to the population and volatility of the two states in the Northwest.
She said: “We want the religious leaders to take the message of peace to their congregation in the two states and we believe that that will go a long way in preventing violent extremism among the youth in the North-western states,” Adamu said.