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  • Religious leaders, politicians urged to embrace peace

    Religious leaders, politicians urged to embrace peace

    Religious leaders and politicians have been urged to embrace peace, instead of confrontational posture against constituted authorities.

    Speaking at his palace, the Baale of Dopemuland in Agege Local Government of Lagos State, Chief Shuaib Afogunlowo, appealed to Muslim and Christian leaders and their followers to give peace a chance and pray for “our religious and political leaders, to find solutions to the problems in the country.”

    He said the recent utterances credited to religious leaders were negative, rather than promoting peace.

    Read Also: Food crisis: Fed govt distributes 740 trucks of rice across Nigeria

    “We need to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redeem our challenges,” the monarch added.

    He appealed to the government to do the needful “because a hungry man is an angry man.”

    Chief Afogunlowo advised Nigerians to support the three tiers of government “to overcome our challenges.”

  • NGO, religious leaders seek peaceful poll

    A non-governmental-organisation (NGO), Strength in Diversity Development Center (SDDC) and some religious leaders have urged politicians to ensure peace reigns during tomorrow’s and March 2nd general elections.

    They made the submission at inter-religious and inter-denominational prayers for peaceful election.

    SDDC, in a communiqué signed by its Executive Director, Imam Shefiu Abdulkareem, said a national week of prayers and rally were held between February 8th  and 10th.

    The resolutions including reduction of hate speeches by educating the people to understand its consequences and urging religious leaders to desist from the act of hate speech.

    SDDC also bemoaned the act of vote buying, which it said has denied Nigerians from enjoying the good governance.

    “There must be penalty for such act (both the seller and buyer). The punishment must be enforced as well,” the group said.

    The Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Muhammed Bambado, at the conference, urged religious leaders to use their influence by calling on politicians within their domains to show commitment in preventing electoral violence.

    “Beyond ensuring peace, it has also become imperative for leaders to enlighten their subject and followers and encourage them to ask questions and seek clarification before going out to vote,” he said.

    The Chief Missioner of Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, said fake news and hate speech are worrisome trend that has bedevilled Nigeria, noting that fighting it has become a matter of urgency.

    He urged religious leaders to desist from circulating fake news and hate speech in their sermon.

    He said: “We are the one suffering the threat of social media not the owner, It is better we act now by exploring common humanity and not emphasising on parochial interest”.

    Bishop Mathew Daniels said vote buying creates a big distortion and hindrance to the democratic idea of a free and fair election that ensures that the electorates elect the leaders they deem fit to rule them.

     

     

  • Religious leaders to INEC, security agencies: be neutral

    RELIGIOUS leaders in the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to observe neutrality and impartiality in the conduct of the upcoming general elections.

    They also charged the Federal Government to take steps at improving the security situation, with special attention to insurgency that has ravaged some parts in three Northern states for the security of people in the affected areas during the elections.

    In a communique issued in Abuja yesterday, following a crucial meeting last week, the interfaith religious leaders stressed the need for INEC to be independent and impartial in the conduct of the elections.

    The communique, jointly signed by Bishop Sunday Onuoha and Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sani, also urged the government to engage in adequate sensitisation of the public on the need to embrace peace before, during and after the elections

    The religious leaders called on political parties, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to exercise restraint in their choice of words to avoid heating up the polity.

    The communique stated: “That government should beef up security, especially in areas ravaged by conflicts and ensure that no citizen is disenfranchised owing to prevailing security challenges.

    “That the security agencies should be unbiased and remain neutral while discharging their duties during the forthcoming general elections.

    “Relevant stakeholders, such as religious bodies, civil society organisations, town unions, youth groups have critical roles to play to douse the palpable tension and ensure hitch-free elections.”

  • Buhari to religious leaders: Shun partisan politics or lose respect

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday told religious leaders in the country to eschew partisan politics to avoid rubbishing their status and losing public respect.

    He made the call while speaking at the Interfaith Initiative for Peace Conference in Abuja.

    The President urged religious leaders to play the roles they had played in 2015 that brought about a peaceful election.

    He asked them to “eschew partisan politics and appeal to their respective members to read the manifesto of each political party, discuss and pray for God’s guidance before casting their votes.

    “Religious leaders should not be seen to involve themselves in partisan politics or political controversies. Otherwise they risk losing their status and public respect.”

    He commended the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan and the Co-Initiators of the Interfaith who he said have continued to work for peace and peaceful coexistence as faithful Muslims and Christians.

    He also expressed appreciation to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Reverend Justin Welby for accepting to be the keynote speaker at the Conference.

    He said: “Primary elections are over. It is my hope that all who feel aggrieved would put the stability of our country first before their political ambitions and accept the decision of their political parties or seek resolution through party reconciliation mechanisms or the law courts.

    “Very soon, political campaigns will commence leading to elections in February next year. It is my hope and prayer that we will even perform better at the polling stations and see to a peaceful completion of the entire process without resorting to negative use of religion and ethnicity.”

    Continuing, he said, “On their part, traditional rulers are also requested to enlighten their subjects, encourage them to ask questions and seek clarifications before going out to vote.

    “As your President, I will request that you encourage your subjects to come out and exercise their voting rights as responsible citizens. To all of us politicians, I ask that we discharge our political responsibilities with integrity, bearing in mind that we will one day give an account to God, the Almighty.

    “I am proud to say that our country has moved on, the era of free money, lack of transparency and accountability is over! We deserve continuity; we deserve a better future for the coming generations. I sincerely hope 2019 will move us closer to these goals and so I look forward to a peaceful, fair and credible elections come 2019.

    “I implore you to continue praying for the country’s unity, peace and progress.”

     

  • Deadline on Leah Sharibu: Religious leaders appeal to abductors

    Religious leaders under the aegis of Interfaith Initiative for Peace (IIP) on Friday in Abuja appealed to the abductors of Leah Sharibu to release the girl and abandon their threat of executing her.

    The leaders made the appeal on the sideline of a Peace conference organised by IIP towards the 2019 general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports IIP is jointly founded by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Saad Abubakar and the Catholic Arch Bishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan.

    Speaking to newsmen on behalf of the group, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Northern Nigeria, Rev. Yakubu Pam said the abductors should abandon their threat in order the save Sharibu’sfamily from the agony of losing a child in such a violent circumstance.

    “We heard that they said next week is their deadline and that is why in this meeting, as we are discussing about the peace of this country, we felt that it is very important and very paramount to talk about this matter.

    “The mother is in agony, the family is in agony and we are appealing to their conscience. Whatever it is, let them be lenient and also allow God to speak to their heart,” he said

    The cleric added: “We are here as religious leaders and traditional rulers to appeal to the conscience of the abductors of these innocent girl.

    “I know too that the mother has also cried, the family members have cried to the abductors of this innocent girl as well as well meaning citizens of Nigeria have also cried.

    “We want to appeal to them, to please, for the sake of God, release this innocent girl and by doing this, Nigeria will appreciate”.

    Pam called on the government to do whatever it can within its powers to ensure the girl is safely released and reunited with her family.

    He noted that the the leaders of the two major religions in Nigeria, Christianity and Islam, as well as traditional rulers were attending the conference to discuss peace ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Speaking in the same vein, the Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters’ Mosque in Abuja, Sheikh Mohmamed Khalid appealed to the abductors to have a rethink and revisit their minds on the abducted girl.

    He noted that the abductors of Sharibu were on their own and they did not represent Islam.

    “We are here to speak on behalf of the bodies of the two main religions, Islam and Christianity.

    “We want the world to understand that these people that are holding our children and other people in captivity are not representing anything, they are on their own.

    Read Also: Leah Sharibu: Beyond the president’s call

    “Islam is not asking them to abduct anybody and we the Muslims are going to join hands with anybody to do anything possible to secure Nigerians from their agony”.

    He stressed that the abductors of Sharibu had no basis to hold her captive since her colleagues whom they were abducted together were released.

    NAN recalled that the mother of Sharibu, the only one of the kidnapped Dapchi girls who remained in captivity, had appealed to her abductors to be compassionate and release her daughter unharmed.

    She made the appeal on Thursday in an interview monitored on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

    Boko Haram abducted Leah Sharibu and 109 other girls from their school in Dapchi on February 19, 2018.

    While most of the girls have been released, Leah has remained in captivity, and her abductors have threatened to kill her.

    Similarly, the family of two of the three female aid workers who were abducted in March 2018 had pleaded for the release of the women.

    Alice Loksha was working with ICRC in Rann, Kalabalge, when she was abducted, while Amina Liman was working with UNICEF also in Rann when she was kidnapped by Boko Haram.

    Also in an interview monitored on NTA on Thursday, Gideon Loksha the younger brother of Alice, pleaded for the release of his sister.

    In a separate interview, Yiakachi Liman, the mother of Amina, made a passionate plea for her release

    The third abducted lady, Saifura Hussaini Ahmed, was killed by her abductors last month.

  • Religious leaders critical to fight against corruption, says ICPC

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said religious leaders are key stakeholders in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

    The agency’s Commissioner for Education, Malam Muhammad Baba, stated this yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, at the Train-the-Trainers Workshop for Imams and Islamic dcholars, organised by the Just Foundation, a subsidiary of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society.

    He recalled that since 2014, ICPC had been engaging religious leaders across the country to participate actively in the fight against corruption.

    Baba also said due to the critical role of religious leaders in tackling social vices, such as corruption, the commission introduced Religious Leaders’ Forum to educate them about the negative impact of the menace.

    He said: “ICPC, in line with the statutory mandate of the commission as contained in Section 6 (b to f) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, has the mandate to prevent corruption.

    “ICPC also has the mandate to stop or fight corruption through any legal means, including educating and sensitising the public.

    “Part of education and sensitising the public is engaging religious leaders in the fight against corruption.

    “That is why we introduced the religious leaders’ forum. Since 2014, we have been engaging with the religious leaders across Nigeria to participate actively in the fight against corruption.”

    He said the forum had impacted positively in the fight against corruption and increase awareness everywhere, adding that people are increasingly becoming aware of the dangers of corruption.

    The commissioner also said that more religious leaders are now aware and they can change the attitude of their followers through sermons and other forms of preaching.

    The Executive Director of Just Foundation, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, said the aim of the training was to build the capacity of Islamic clerics to understand and participate actively in the ongoing fight against corruption.

    He said that 95 per cent of all the problems confronting Nigeria was corruption-induced, adding that the moment corruption was effectively tackled people would be able to get their right justly.

  • Lagos denies plan to place religious leaders on salary

    …Says report untrue, misleading

     

    The Lagos State Government on Tuesday debunked viral report on the social media suggesting that it was planning to commence paying salary to religious leaders in the State, saying the claim was totally untrue and misleading.

    Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr. Abdulateef Abdulhakeem who made the clarification while speaking on a television programme monitored in Lagos, said there was no iota of truth in the said report, and urged members of the public to disregard it in its entirety.

    Read Also:Lagos to religious groups: champion peaceful 2019 poll

    He said: “The clear position is that the Lagos State Government is not intending to employ Imams and Pastors. There is no such plan and there is no willingness on our part to delve into a private realm.

    “What exists in Lagos State is that there is a symbiotic relationship between the Lagos State Government and faith-based organizations and it is a mutually beneficial relationship which has contributed to the growth and development of the State,” Abdulhakeem said.

    In the said report, Abdulhakeem was quoted as saying that the State Government would soon place religious leaders on the State salary structure to encourage them to use their Pulpit and the Minbar to re-orientate citizenry to shun corruption and immorality.

    Clarifying his statement, the Commissioner said: “I must have been misunderstood or misquoted. We were at a forum where we were trying to encourage religious leaders to be advocates against corruption because religious leaders have millions of adherents and they enjoy the allegiance of millions of followers and we expect them to use the Pulpit and the Minbar to advocate for good governance and selflessness so that they can influence their members positively.

    “In Lagos State, one of the remarkable successes of the present administration is that we have cutting-edge approaches to relating with religious leaders and that is why Lagos remains the most peaceful and most religious crisis-free State in the federation inspite of our cosmopolitan nature.”

    Already, the Commissioner said a structured approach had been put in place to relate with religious leaders in the State through the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) which consists of people nominated by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim Community across the 57 Local Councils in the State.

    According to him, “We have them at the State level; they meet regularly in the Home Affairs and instead of leaving them as dysfunctional silos, we ensure that there is an integrated approach.

    “They meet regularly to interact on religious issues and the Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has even further decentralized that whereby over 700 of them were appointed based on their nominations and they are volunteers who are not paid anything. They come together to nip religious crisis at the bud,” he said.

    He added that the general approach of the State Government to religion was that of rule of law, good governance, constitutional democracy and more than anything, the observance and preservation of the fundamental human rights of Lagosians to freely practice their religion.

    “Section 38 of the Constitution is very clear and explicit that every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion including the freedom to change your religion and the freedom to either alone or in community with others practice, manifest and propagate your religion. Clearly, that is unequivocally telling you that religion is a private affair as far as the Lagos State Government is concerned,” Abdulhakeem said.

    Responding to a question on why the State Government was yet to implement a Court of Appeal judgment on the use of Hijab by school girls, Abdulhakeem said being a government which firmly believes in rule of law, the State Government was awaiting the pronouncement of the Supreme Court on the matter which, he said, was already before the apex court.

    On taxes, the Commissioner said though religious institutions were exempted according to the State laws, but any religious body which engages in commercial activities was liable to pay tax.

    “Religious institutions are not taxable under the Lagos laws but where religious institutions engage in business transactions like schools and so on, then such are liable to pay taxes but as far as the institution is concerned, it is exempted from paying tax.

    “Also, those who convert their buildings into Mosque to avoid paying taxes, we have made it abundantly clear that you are not allowed to convert residential premises into religious centres. So, people should just respect God the way the Lagos State Government has respected God and do not come under that arena to avoid payment of taxes,” he said.

    Besides, the Commissioner said the State Government had already embarked on massive enlightenment and re-orientation against noise pollution by religious leaders, but any resident who is affected by such should however report either through the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) or the Ministry of Home Affairs for action.

  • Sultan berates religious leaders calling for war

    •Blames media for spreading falsehood

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has cautioned religious groups and leaders against comments that would mislead their followers into war.

    Abubakar gave the warning while addressing some Sokoto residents, heads of security agencies, religious leaders and journalists during a Ramadan breakfast dinner held at his palace on Monday night.

    The monarch cited a publication credited to some Christian leaders titled, “if Leah Sharibu dies in the hand of Boko Haram, there will be a religious war in the country,” saying such utterances were irresponsible.

    He reminded such religious leaders that “terrorism has no connection to religion or ethnicity.’’

    Abubakar added that in the event the girl was killed by the terrorists, the Christian leaders that made the comment must be held for complicity.

    “How can a leader make such comment,’’ he queried, and stressed that Muslims did not in any way connive with Boko Haram to abduct the girl or get others released.

    The Sultan reminded such Christian leaders that more Muslims have been killed by Boko Haram than Christians “which even the former President Goodluck Jonathan testified to.’

    “For some section to make that comment that if she dies in the hand of Boko Haram there will be a religious war is very unfair. How can someone begin to attack Muslims because this innocent girl happened to be a victim of murderous terrorists?

    “It means the Boko Haram group are winning the war because that is exactly what they want.

    “If they hear about this and went and kill the innocent girl that means you are part and parcel of what make them to do that because they want to cause confusion in the country.”

    He urged all Nigerians of goodwill to join in prayers for the safe return of the girl, and for peace and harmony across the country.

    The Sultan urged Journalists to avoid sensational and mischievous stories capable of dividing the peace along religious, ethnic and cultural roots.

    He berated the attitude of some media organisations who immediately broadcast stories without considering its sensitivity and negative consequences.

    The Monarch particularly, expressed displeasure with the way some television houses in the country such as Channels television station mischievously portray pictures of some people carrying  sophisticated weapons as Fulani herdsmen, noting that such pictures could influence the belief of many against Fulani herdsmen.

    “This can send wrong signals that Fulani herdsmen really carry guns and attack communities as they were consistently accused of.

    “There is no G4 riffle because it has been wiped away for long and that picture used particularly by a TV station was that of herders in Central Africa who were being terrorised by rustlers, because cattle rustling started in their country long before coming to Nigeria,” he noted.

    He threatened to disown the award of fellowship on him by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in protest against continued misleading and unverified stories aired or published by members of the union.

    Abubakar, who is the President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, however, stressed that the crises between Fulani and farmers were purely economic, now hijacked by a few criminal elements.

    He reiterated that the criminals killing innocent people especially in the Middle Belt must be arrested and punished.

    “But don’t arrest or kill innocent Fulani men just like what happened in Benue state when innocent Fulani people who were on transit, were stopped and killed by some residents of the state,” he cautioned.

    The Sultan expressed fear that the killings could continue because some politicians were using it to edge out their political opponents.

    “Nigerians should expose criminals in their midst, even if they are their parents or relations.

    “Let’s not leave them alone, don’t hide criminal even if they are your fathers, because too much blood had been shed and this is why God is angry with us.

    “I believe there are more good people than the bad ones, let the good come together and defeat the bad ones, we have done that while fighting malaria and we can do it again,” he said

    He also advocated for more effective tools and welfare for security agents working round the clock to restore peace in the country.

    He urged Nigerians to assist security agencies to overcome the nation’s security challenges.

    “Doing so, will encourage their efforts and operational capacity to positively face the security challenges bedevilling the country. This can be achieved by feeding the security with useful and intelligent information about movement of people with suspicious character around,” he said.

  • Cleric advises religious leaders on peace

    Cleric advises religious leaders on peace

    Religious leaders have been urged to teach their followers about the true words of God and complement Federal Government’s effort on enthroning peace.

    The Dean Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Most Reverend Buba Lamido gave the counsel at the collation of three archdeacons and one Reverend Canon at Saint Bartholomew Cathedral, Kubwa, Abuja.

    Archbishop Lamido explained that some church leaders have become political pastors, who did not care about the welfare of their members.

    He appealed to the newly ordained priests to feed their church with words of God and promote unity among the congregation

    The Bishop of Kubwa Anglican Diocese Right Reverend Duke Akamisoko said the church would not relent in enhancing the welfare of citizens through the provision of quality education and healthcare services.

    Bishop Akamisoko appealed to the Federal Government to address the state of insecurity.

    According to him, the incessant attacks of herdsmen on farmers were becoming unbearable.

    Those newly collated are Venerable Louis Uche Ocher, Venerable Babatunde Oyesina, venerable Okeychukwu Chukwujekwu and Reverend Canon Emmanuel Abiodun.

  • JNI cautions against provocative statements by religious leaders

    JNI cautions against provocative statements by religious leaders

    Apex Islamic body in Northern Nigeria, Jamatul Nasir Islam (JNI) yesterday alleged that the “herdsmen” debacle is a coinage invented by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

    Addressing a news conference at the headquarters of JNI in reaction to the Secretary-General of CAN Rev. Musa Asake’s statement last week, Secretary-General of JNI Sheikh Khalid Abubakar Aliyu described the CAN Secretary-General’s speech as a January 16 news conference as provocative and full of blatant lies.

    The JNI said: “Why is the whole herdsmen issue heightened now in 2018? Simply, CAN is unnecessarily overheating the polity because 2019 is around the corner. Our take is that CAN should better go and register as a political party and contest election if they want to test their popularity.