The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Religious extremism

  • “Little sacrifice, tolerance can help attain peace.”

    “Little sacrifice, tolerance can help attain peace.”

    The All Nigerian United Nations Students and Youths Association (ANUNSA) in affiliation with Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL), a non-governmental organization, in a peace walk has challenged individuals to be tolerant in the quest for peaceful coexistence.

    The call was made at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH), venue of the 2nd Annual Commemoration of Declaration of World Peace tagged ‘Let’s step into peace Wi-Fi zone’.

    In her opening remark, Ambassador Ukoha, ANUNSA National President, described the peace gathering as necessary amongst humans to be aware on the need to abide in peace.

    “The word peace is very difficult to actualize in a society where injustice, social-cultural diversity, tribalism, and religious bias have become the order of the day,” she observed.

    Also speaking exclusively to journalists, she brings into visibility how a situation of devoid of peace can affect people, and deprive them of their fundamental rights.

    “Peace is a global phenomenon to sustainable development; because where peace is taken away people can’t have conducive atmosphere.

    However, peaceful life entails acceptance, tolerance, and sacrifice; in short it entails what you have and can give away,” Ukoha noted.

    She further recounted her efforts at sensitizing the public as regards peace sustainability saying: “There was a time we have National Women’s Workshop, an inter-communal peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.

    “Women were selected all over Nigeria and lodged in a hotel in Lagos. Resource persons were brought in to train them on the acts of peace, and the ability for them as women to harmonize peace starting from the family level.

    “One can’t really attain the word peace without starting from home. When a home is peaceful it can transcend to a community, from the community to the nation, then from the nation to the international community.

    “Also, young people are included in our activities and we call that gender main streaming. The idea basically is lend out and see how the males and females can co-habit together without having differential notions.”

    According to her peace activities involve all individuals as the major stakeholders, no one is exempted. Both hemp of affairs and all other bodies that institutionalized a society are major players in peace activities.

    Responding to the possibilities of attaining peace, the ANUNSA boss said: “It is possible to attain peace because God has foreseen the differences, diversities, and inadequacies; yet He (God) institutionalizes all men to be followed with peace.

    “A little sacrifice, tolerance, acceptance can help go a long way in attaining peace.”

  • Another Bangladesh blogger killed

    Another Bangladesh blogger killed

    Just approximately 9days after the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) celebrated World Press Freedom Day in Riga, the capital city of Latvia, an attack has been made against the profession.

    There is no denial that an attack on a professional is an attack on the profession he or she practices. Sadly, a secular blogger was on Tuesday hacked to death in north-eastern Bangladesh.

    According to local police, the death of Ananta Bijoy Das marks the third of such deadly attacks since the start of the year, saying that Das was attacked by a masked gang wielding machetes in the city of Sylhet.

    Mr Das wrote blogs for Mukto-Mona, a website once moderated by Avijit Roy, who was also hacked to death in February for criticism on religious intolerance.

    The publisher lost his life in a machete attack while he was visiting the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, as he returned from a book fair in the city with his wife (now a widow) who also suffered head injuries and lost a finger in the attack.

    Lawyer and human rights activist, Sara Hossain, revealed to BBC that Mr. Das and Mr. Roy were on a list of targets for a while before they were attacked.

    She noted: “They’ve always believed and written very vocally in support of free expression and they’ve very explicitly written about not following any religion themselves,” she told the BBC World Service’s Newsday programme.

    “These last two have been part of a blog called Mukto-Mona (Free Mind), which is about free thinking and is about explicitly taking on religious fundamentalism and particularly Islamic religious fundamentalism. Their names have been on lists of identified targets.”

    Last month’s attack on Mr Roy prompted massive protests from students and social activists, who accused the authorities of failing to protect critics of religious bigotry.

    Sometimes in March, another blogger, Washiqur Rahman, was hacked to death in Dhaka for which an Islamist and two madrassa students were arrested over his murder.

  • Another blogger hacked to death in Bangladesh

    Another blogger hacked to death in Bangladesh

    There is no denial that an attack on a professional is an attack on the profession he or she practices. Sadly, a secular blogger was on Tuesday hacked to death in north-eastern Bangladesh.

    Just approximately 9days after the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) celebrated World Press Freedom Day in Riga, the capital city of Latvia, an attack has been made against the profession.

    According to local police, the death of Ananta Bijoy Das marks the third of such deadly attacks since the start of the year, saying that Das was attacked by a masked gang wielding machetes in the city of Sylhet.

    Mr Das wrote blogs for Mukto-Mona, a website once moderated by Avijit Roy, who was also hacked to death in February for criticism on religious intolerance.

    The publisher lost his life in a machete attack while he was visiting the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, as he returned from a book fair in the city with his wife (now a widow) who also suffered head injuries and lost a finger in the attack.

    Lawyer and human rights activist, Sara Hossain, revealed to BBC that Mr. Das and Mr. Roy were on a list of targets for a while before they were attacked.

    She noted: “They’ve always believed and written very vocally in support of free expression and they’ve very explicitly written about not following any religion themselves,” she told the BBC World Service’s Newsday programme.

    “These last two have been part of a blog called Mukto-Mona (Free Mind), which is about free thinking and is about explicitly taking on religious fundamentalism and particularly Islamic religious fundamentalism. Their names have been on lists of identified targets.”

    Last month’s attack on Mr Roy prompted massive protests from students and social activists, who accused the authorities of failing to protect critics of religious bigotry.

    Sometimes in March, another blogger, Washiqur Rahman, was hacked to death in Dhaka for which an Islamist and two madrassa students were arrested over his murder.

  • Nigeria hosts World religion peace summit

    Nigeria hosts World religion peace summit

    There is no denial that the world today is going through varying degrees of tension across borders, violence, injustices, human rights violations and discrimination, and the major cause of this violence has always been traced to religion. Thus, the need for world religions to come together to save the world cannot be overemphasised.
    In the effort to put things right from religious angle, the 2nd World Alliance of Religions’ Peace Summit (WARP) held on Tuesday in Nigeria.
    The summit tagged ‘Dialogue of Scriptures’, held at the multipurpose hall of Beleke Memorial Mosque, Surulere – Lagos, attempted to find meaning to who God is, if God really created everything in the universe, and why He gave the Scriptures.
    Answers to these questions were drawn from the Scriptures of the two major religious group represented as the Traditional worshipper could not make the summit to describe God from his Scripture.
    Speaking on the theme: ‘About the God and His Holy Scripture’, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, Chief Executive Officer of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, started by describing God in different languages from Arabic – Allah to Yoruba – Olorun, Hausa – Ubangiji, Igbo – Chineke and many others as he could remember.
    The Cleric defined God from the point view of the Islamic scripture – Quran saying: “There is no other God but He. He lives forever and neither sleep nor slumber. He controls all things in heaven and on earth.
    “Whatever must come to be must receive His permission. His throne extends throughout heavens and on earth. Allah is the creator of the whole universe and cause to grow, all leaves and plants.”
    Imam Shuaib also said that Allah gave the scripture as divine guidance for mankind and as a criterion for establishing rights from wrongs, light from darkness, truth from falsehood, justice from injustice and peace from violence.
    Archbishop Anthony Macfonse of Osmond Orthodox Church in his speech started by establishing the fact that man cannot completely understand what God is like because He is beyond our limited understanding. His words: “Definitely we know Him and we have found clues as to what God is like and what He wants from us.” He therefore went on to describe God according to the Christian Scripture: “I am your God, apart from me there is no other. I am God the father of all creation. Before the mountains were made, before the universe was created, I am always your everlasting God and do not live in any particular place.”
    Sharing a similar view with the Archbishop, Sheikh Sulaiman Adangba described God firstly as the unseen being at every action and cannot be compared to any creature. According to Sheikh Adangba, National Head of Mission, Al-Fatihul Quareeb Islamic Society of Nigeria: “He (God) created the heavens and the earth and He is the sustainer of the living and none living creatures. He is all knowing; all powerful.”
    He further noted that God is the greatest considering the way He created everything by merely calling them into existence. “He created everything by simply saying let there be,” he said.
    According to him, for world religion to achieve the desired degree of peace, there may be need for a Religion National Conference the same way those in government are calling for a Sovereign National Conference.
    Sheikh Adangba admonished that religion faithful should be conversant with the teaching of the religion’s Scripture given to by God through His prophets.
    “It is those who are one that would be saved. Let us be versatile with our Scriptures since it has all guidance for our existence on earth,” the Sheikh maintained.
    The fourth speaker, Venerable Nwashili Kaine Desmond of the Anglican Church did not differ from Sheikh’s stands when he maintained that all Scriptures were breathed out by God and permitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.
    The Clergy further said that God gave the Scripture to reveal Himself to man as against the beliefs of Science and that the Scripture was given to reveal the lasting picture of Christ. “God gave us the Bible to reflect Himself to mankind as in the case of a mirror and to also reflect man to man.
    The Scripture helps us to see other people’s sins as well as our sins. He (God) gave the Bible to reveal His plan of salvation.”
    On his part, chairman of the event, Bishop Johnson Akin Atere, urged every participant to develop personal relationship with God saying: “If you find yourself amidst a crowd in the stadium, praying and calling to God all night long, what matters most is your relationship with God.
    Speaking about religious wars, the man of God said: “If you meet a war survivor and he or she recounts happenings to you, you will never desire war. Let us love one another and learn to manage our differences so that we can get closer to where we are going rather than where we are coming from.”
    WARP, an initiative of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) headquartered in Seoul, is devoted with sincere hopes that everyone shares the world with peace and good health.
    HWPL is an international organization whose mandate is to see the cessation of wars. It pursues this goal through a number of avenues, namely the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), and the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG).
    Delivering the closing remark, Shakiru Yekini, Secretary to Conference of Islamic Organisations – the host organisation for the event – gave the assurance that the summit will, in its subsequent editions, engage more youths by taking the event to Hall of tertiary institutions. “The youths are the future leaders and we cannot but get closer to them to teach them what is right to do,” he summed.
  • Lawmakers to stop religious extremism, says Mark

    Lawmakers to stop religious extremism, says Mark

    The National Assembly is ready to make laws to fight religious extremism, Senate President David Mark said yesterday.

    Religious extremism has been blamed for the killings across the country, especially in the North where Boko Haram (Western education is a sin) has been fighting to make Nigeria an Islamic state.

    As many as 2000 people have been killed by the insurgents, whose activities are carried out mainly in the Northeast states of Borno and Yobe.

    Boko Haram claimed responsibility for bombings of the United Nations House and the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

    “We are ready to support religious activities that will foster unity in the country, we are ready to make laws that will fight religious extremism in the country,’’ Mark said, adding that the Senate had already passed the bill on gay marriage and was awaiting the report of the House of Representatives before sending the bill to the President for assent.

    Mark spoke in Abuja at a reception organised in honour of John Cardinal Onaiyekan on his 30th Episcopal ordination and his recent elevation to the College of Cardinals.

    The service was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, who said the character of Nigerians is a challenge which the church must re-brand to make the country a better place.

    The President said: “The church, the government and the political actors have the same responsibilities and we believe that the church is at the centre of society building.

    “Some of the challenges we face today; it’s because of the character our people have. If the church moulds the people, especially starting from the children, Nigeria will be a better place.

    “There is no doubt that immense progress has been made in this critical area and I am grateful for all the work that has been done by the church.

    “We all know that no religion preaches or encourages violence.

    “The two major religions in our land preach brotherhood, love and peaceful co-existence, which are their foundation.

    “Those who do otherwise do not worship God. Because it can not be the same person who worship God that will encourage others to kill people who are also created by God.

    “We believe that God created all of us and anybody who raises a weapon to kill the very one created by God cannot be said to be worshipping God.’’

    Jonathan described the appointment of Cardinal Onaiyekan as a clear recognition by the Vatican of the immense contributions of the Church in Nigeria to the worldwide Catholic movement.

    “I see in his appointment a recognition for those who work and toil for peace, bringing hope to their people and building bridges for reconciliation among men.

    “I also see it as a great privilege to our country at this time and in particular to me since I am serving as the President now,’’ he said.

    The President says Cardinal Onaiyekan is “a simple, humble and totally unassuming man, yet a man of great distinction, learning and knowledege who always sees himself as a citizen and, of course, a messenger and servant of God’’.

    Jonathan noted that the smooth progresion of the clergy in the church’s hierachy stood him out as a man of great piety and intellectual strenght.

    The President expressed the hope “that one day – and I pray it will not be too long – we will also celebrate a Papal Father from Nigeria’’.

    In his sermon entitled “the infant king of Bethlehem”, Cardinal Onaiyekan spoke about the Epiphany and circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ.

    The cardinal noted that a true religion must be open to all, embrace peace and be devoid of blood-shedding.

    “That Nigeria is deeply religious is a precious asset.

    “It is, however, sad that our image abroad is tainted with fanaticism, religious intolerance, killing and shedding of blood.

    “We must not allow this to continue. We have to strive to live in peace in our nation with our differences of tribe, culture, tradition, language and religion.

    “We must see the image of God in everybody around us and apply the golden rule that we should do to others only what we can do to ourselves.

    Cardinal Onaiyekan said that the congratulatory messages he had received since his appointment cut across religion, tribe, business and politics.

    He said the thanksgiving service was in commemoration of his 30 years of ordination as a Bishop and his appointment into the College of Cardinal by Pope Benedict the XVI.

    He recalled that on January 6, 1983, he was ordained Bishop by Pope John Paul II at St Peters Basilica in Rome.

    Cardinal Onaiyekan said of the 14, two were Nigerians.

    The clergy also noted that January 6 was significant in his life as remarkable things had happened on that date.

    He said he was ordained a deacon on Jan. 6, 1969; Bishop on January 6, 1983; took over as Bishop of Ilorin Diocese January 6, 1985, Bishop of Abuja Diocese on Jan. 6, 1992 and held the thanksgiving on his elevation to Cardinal on January 6, 2013.

    Kogi State Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi, who represented Governor Idris Wada at the service, said the occasion was a moment of pride for the government and people of the state.

    He said Cardinal Onaiyekan, who is from the state, rose from a humble beginning to the peak of his episcopal career.

    The Coordinator of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) Prof Ishaq Oloyede, who represented the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, underscored the need for religious tolerance and cooperation.

    He described Cardinal Onaiyekan as a “genuine man of God, academic per excellence, promoter of peace and a pride to the nation and Africa’’.

    Cardinal Onaiyekan was born on January 29, 1944 in Kabba, Kogi State. He attended St. Michael Secondary School, Aliade, Benue State and the Major Seminary of St Peter and Paul, Ibadan, Oyo State. He was ordained priest on August 3, 1959 and consecrated into the prestigious College of Cardinals on November 24, 2012 in Rome.

    He is the fourth Nigerian Catholic priest to be appointed a Cardinal, after the late Cardinal Dominic Ekanem, Cardinal Francis Arinze and Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie.

     

  • Nigeria demands global action on religious extremism

    Nigeria demands global action on religious extremism

    Nigerian on Wednesday demanded immediate and sustained global action to deal with the problem of religious extremism in some parts of the world.

    Senate President, Senator David Mark, made the demand in a speech at the 127th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) holding in Quebec, Canada.

    Our correspondent covering the conference reports that apart from dealing a blow on religious fundamentalism, Mark said that steps should be taken to address the crippling effects of ethnicity.

    The conference has the theme: “Citizenship, identity, cultural and linguistic diversity in a globalised world.”

    Mark noted that tackling religious extremism and ethnicity would help to reduce divisive tendencies in parts of the world.

    He reiterated that “though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we want.”

    The Senate President proposed that there should be an acknowledgement that all parts of the world are blessed with different linguistic and cultural diversities with Nigerian alone having over 250 tribes.

    Secondly, he said that there should be further acknowledgement that “these nature-made diversities were not meant to divide the world, but to give it the tonic of variety which is globally acknowledged as the spice of life.”

    He restated that more than ever before humanity has come to understand that despite language, ethnic, cultural, race, religious, gender as well as political inclination and economic diversities, it is through brotherhood that progress could be achieved in the world.

    Mankind, he said, has also come to appreciate the more that no community, whether local or international, is an island to itself.