Chief Imam of Lagos State University (LASU) Prof Amidu Sanni and Pastor Charles Ighele of the Holy Spirit Mission Church, Ikeja, have described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presence at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration mass as a demonstration of religious tolerance.
The two clerics bared their minds yesterday in separate chats with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
On Sunday, Tinubu, a Muslim, joined other world leaders to witness the inauguration mass at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Rome.
Prof Sanni said that Nigerians should imbibe President Tinubu’s religious liberalism and statesmanship to foster unity, describing his participation in the one-hour mass as encouraging.
The chief imam said: “As a Muslim, President Tinubu demonstrated the fundamental quality of Islamic liberalism, inclusivism and statesmanship.
“He also held a closed-door meeting with the Nigerian Conference of Catholic Bishops at the end of the inauguration, when he assured them of his readiness to always support their cause.
READ ALSO: Can Nigeria First policy fire up sluggish manufacturing sector?
“He also appealed to the cardinals to join efforts at making our diversity to enhance our unity.” Sanni said.
Noting that the President had continued to show support for pilgrimages to Jerusalem, the cleric said: “I therefore appealed to Nigerians to see ourselves first as human beings who have the freedom to adopt any religion of choice and to respect that choice without mischief and ill-will or subtle manipulation and coercion, by emulating the President in our conducts with others.
“It shows that tolerance and broad-mindedness are necessary for good leadership which should be emulated at all levels to ensure peaceful coexistence and societal development.”
Pastor Ighele said that Tinubu’s presence at the inauguration of the 267th Pontiff did not come to him a surprise.
According to him, Tinubu’s wife, Remi, is a known Christian.
He said: “A man who has not prevented his wife from her church attendance should be appreciated. We should appreciate the president for this.
“His being in Rome for the Pope’s inauguration should be applauded by all. It shows his level of religious tolerance. As a preacher of the Word of God, I believe that we should praise someone when the person does what is good.
“I am not a Catholic, but I was happy seeing him on television among other leaders.”
According to him, Tinubu’s action promoted religious harmony.
“There is the need for us as a people to see one another first as humans created by same God.”