Christians, Muslims and political leaders have agreed to engage the youth for peace in a multi-religious society. It was at a public lecture and book presentation organised by the national secretariat of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) at the Conference Hall of the National Mosque in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). MAHMUD ABDULSALAM reports.
Religion is said to be the opium of the masses, yet its potential to divide the people in a multi-religious society is high.
In a heterogeneous clime, achieving a lasting peace and fostering cohesion among followers of various religions may remain a mirage, if the youth are not taught the values of respect for fundamental religious tenets.
These were the views of speakers at a public lecture with the theme: We believed in all the Prophets, including the Jesus of history, organised by the national secretariat of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN).
According to the speakers, lack of respect and understanding of the fundamentals of major religions remain the sole cause of religious conflicts in a multi-faith society, such as Nigeria.
The speakers, drawn from religious, traditional and political institutions, believed the country has a duty to equip its youths with the knowledge of the tenets of major religions. This, they said, will promote tolerance and enable young people to appreciate Nigeria’s cultural, religious and racial diversity.
The lecture, which held at the Conference Hall of the National Mosque, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, featured the presentation of a book titled: Islam: The bedrock for peaceful coexistence in the society.
MSSN members and delegates attended the event from tertiary institutions, including Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Bayero University, Kano (BUK); Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA); Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK); Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai; University of Abuja (UNIABUJA); Kaduna State University (KADSU); Federal University, Lafia (FUL), and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), among others.
Renowned Muslim and Christian clerics used the platform to educate Muslim students and guests on the virtues of mutual tolerance and compassion for humanity, regardless of beliefs.
Opening the discussion, a Catholic priest, Cardinal John Onayekan, described youths as powerful ambassadors of peace and proponents of moral rebirth, saying: “If the growing spate of verbal agitations across the land must not snowball into a full-blown conflict, the youth and every well-meaning Nigerian must adhere strictly to religious injunctions on mutual tolerance.”
The priest advised the students to be wary of extreme views being propagated by some religious leaders he described as “bogus scholars”. He said that Nigeria’s diversity implied that there would always be polarity of viewpoints, and that tolerance of opposing religious views remained the key to lasting peace.
He added: “There is need for religious leaders to come together to educate our youths to know that wanton bloodletting in the name of religion, insurgency, communal strife and ethno-conflagration, are not worth it.”
The former Archbishop of Abuja Diocese noted that an objective understanding of differences in religions could help foster national unity and fast-track socio-economic growth, while religious elite and the political class should eschew hate speeches that could lead to violence.
An Islamic cleric and columnist with the Leadership newspaper, Sheikh Abubakar Sadeeq, urged parents to give priority to spiritual and moral development of their children. This, he said, would make them grow to become responsible, disciplined and God-fearing individuals.
He lamented the pervasiveness of hate speech across the country, stressing that the country was inching towards conflict daily because of the silence of the traditional and religious elite benefiting from violence.
He said:“Acquiring religious knowledge should be highly encouraged. However, parents and youths have to be wary of the irreprehensible, vile and antagonistic admonitions of some religious fundamentalists whose preaching and pronouncements negate noble scriptural dictates. They are the real threats to the sustenance of the nation’s fragile unity.”
Sheikh Sadeeq said he supported the various military operations launched by the Nigerian Army to curtail criminality. Despite criticisms, the Muslim cleric said the military operations remained the last resort to silence those beating drums of war.
Chairman of the event and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Alhaji Mahmud Ahmed Yayale, emphasised the need for ethical reorientation among youths, through sound religious education, devoid of extremism, bigotry and narrow ambition of religious leaders.
He maintained that only dialogue between warring factions would resolve disputes, saying: “Scholars of different faiths, occasionally, should sit and cross-fertilise ideas on how to address divisive matters among various religious adherents. Being a true believer, you have the responsibility to love your fellow human being and live peacefully with others.”
Former Governor of Niger State Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu noted that God created human beings and societies to be heterogeneous .
He said: “Like the legendary Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Mahatma Gandhi and the iconic Ahmadu Bello of blessed memory, we all must encourage our people to live harmoniously and peacefully. We should draw moral lessons from the fate of the defunct Soviet Union and other war-ravaged African countries.”
Aliyu said Nigeria’s plurality and diversity should give every citizen an opportunity to explore the nation’s natural endowments for personal and national development.
The author of the book, Abdullahi Ginya, emphasised the importance of acquiring knowledge of other religious faiths.
He said: “Writers and religious scholars have a responsibility to correct erroneous beliefs and antiquated stereotypes about their religions. There is need for more insightful publications and lecture sessions, such as this, to equip young people with sound knowledge of religions and guide them away from hatred and extremism.”
He added that the youths’ inability to tolerate, show understanding and have patience with those who disagree with them on the basis of religion and idea, had been largely responsible for violent conflicts in many countries.
He said there was no alternative to peaceful cohabitation among the people, urging political and religious leaders to support the cause of peace.
The event was also attended by secondary school pupils from across the country.
Other dignitaries included the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar; a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bala Faruq; Deputy Chief Imam of National Mosque Dr. Muhammad Kabir, and the National Ameer of MSSN, Ustadh Muhammad Jameel.
