(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/makuu-300x192.jpg) Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku has enjoined religious organisations to take the lead in the promotion of inter-religious harmony and peaceful co-existence in the country.
He made the call in Abuja when he received the Charismatic Bishops Conference on a courtesy visit.
Mr. Maku said the best way to demonstrate the belief in God is to show love to one another and he canvassed for prayers from religious leaders to attain sustainable peace for the development of the country.
"I appeal to you to continue to pray for us, to pray for the country and to continue to lead the way in the search for sustainable peace and solidarity among our various faiths"; he remarked.
Mr. Maku observed that the current security challenges in some parts of the country were politically induced to distract the government, but President Jonathan has remained tolerant and focused in the implementation of his Transformation Agenda.
He said, despite the distractions, Nigeria is the fastest growing economy in Africa with a GDP growth rate of about 7% and has remained the preferred destination of foreign direct investment on the continent.
"Our country is witnessing one of its fastest periods of transformation. Those who want the next office can campaign for those offices, that is what we have allowed under our constitution, but let us do so with some decorum, decency and truth so that our people can enjoy peace", he advised.
According to Maku, the present administration is implementing different policies to open up the critical sectors of the economy to private sector investment to engender economic growth and curb waste. He mentioned agriculture, power, transportation and petroleum as some of the key sectors of the economy that witnessed momentous transformation under the Goodluck Jonathan's administration with tangible results to show.
The Minister noted that in addition to the rehabilitation of the railways across the country, the Federal Government is modernizing and upgrading the railways into standard gauge rail-tracks to provide alternative and convenient means of transportation.
He disclosed that the construction of the standard gauge line from Warri-Ajaokuta-Itakpe is virtually completed; Abuja to Kaduna is over 50% completed, while contracts have been awarded for the construction of standard gauge from Lagos to Ibadan which would be extended to the northern parts of the country.
Mr. Maku said, the implementation of the Power Roadmap has revolutionized the power sector by freeing it from government bureaucracy to attract the required investment and serve as the engine-room for the industrialisation of the country.
The Minister was delighted at how the transformation in the Agriculture Sector blocked the loopholes explored to defraud the nation through fertilizer supplies.
He said, under the Agriculture Transformation Agenda, farmers now get their fertilizers directly from the suppliers at subsidised rates through the e-wallet system without going through middlemen.
Mr. Maku therefore, urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be misled by the propaganda of opposition political parties which is usually not based on constructive criticisms, but pure partisanship and machination aimed at derailing the government for selfish interests.
While speaking earlier, leader of the delegation, Right Reverend Leonard Bature Kawas commended the courage of the President in confronting the challenges of terrorism by declaring the State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.
He said, the clergy were always concerned about the social well-being of their followers and lauded the various policies being implemented by the present administration to improve the living conditions of the citizenry.
Right Reverend Kawas pledged the readiness of the Charismatic Bishops Conference to work with their counterparts in other faiths in support of peace and harmonious co-existence for development to thrive in the country.
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Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria