CHRISTIANS and Muslims leaders in the country Tuesday identified dialogue as the only way to check religious bigotry.
This position was expressed by the Head of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA), Alhaji Abubakar Saad and the National President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oristejafor, in Uyo at the opening ceremony of the extra-ordinary meeting of Nigeria Inter Religious Council.
Sultan said that no religion preached or taught violence, noting however that, there was no problem that dialogue could resolve.
The Sultan said it was a misconception to believe that the bombing in the North were targeted at Christians only, saying that both religions were affected in the killings.
He called on Muslims and non-Muslims to unite to fight the enemy of true religious practices, saying that such was the only way to bring about peace in the country.
"The reason to move this meeting across the country was so that Christians and Muslims will see us meeting together and believe what we say. Dialogue is the best option for any conflict situation.
Religious leaders must always speak the truth. Speaking and not acting what you speak is totally unacceptable. Insecurity is everywhere and must be checked by all of us. No religion preaches violence and such cases should be treated as criminal," he added.
Oristejafor said Christians would continue to partner with Muslims to foster unity in the country.
He said religious leaders would be held responsible when things went wrong, stressing that they should preach and teach what their religion believes in.
He called on the Federal Government to ensure that the perpetrators of evil in the country were brought to book, adding that government should make the people have trust in it by judiciously managing the resources of the country for the benefit of all.
"If we can genuinely foster the unity that we so much desire and talk about, we can together speak truth and demand accountability for our appointed and elected officials in government. In this way, Nigeria will be better for it.
Earlier, Governor Godswill Akpabio identified distrust among religious leaders in the country as the bane of intolerance among their adherents, and charged them to be sincere in doing what they preach.
The Guardian
Religious harmony is something i personally have always wished would exist in this country