Emulate religious tolerance as exemplified in Kogi, Actionaid urges other states in Nigeria

Worried by the growing spate of insecurity across the country, a Non-Governmental Organization, Actionaid Nigeria, has called on leaders and other critical stakeholders in the country to maintain religious tolerance, “as exemplified in Kogi State”. 

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that the Resilience Program Coordinator of Actionaid Nigeria, Mr. Anicetus Atakpu, made the call today, Tuesday June 8, during a one-day religious dialogue organized by Actionaide Nigeria, in collaboration with Participation Initiative For Behavioural Change in Development, (PIBCID) with funding from Global Community Engagement and Resilience Funds.

Atakpu, who traced some of the problem of insecurity in the country to lack of religious tolerance, said the aim of the programme was to strengthen community resilience against violent extremism in Kogi and Nasarawa States. 

He described religious leaders as a strong catalyst towards the prevention of violent extremism in the country, stressing that, there is need for them to use their strong influences on their followers in strengthening peace building and preventing violence in the country.

He commended the people of Kogi State, “for tolerating each other, irrespective of their religion, adding that over the years, Kogi State, has not recorded any religious crisis.

The Resilience Program Coordinator of Actionaid Nigeria, however urged religious leaders not to relent in propagating the message of peaceful co-existence in the state. 

He explained that the programme was to further prevent action that is inimical to the peace of the state, stressing that Actionaid Nigeria through its SARVE II Project in the last two years, has engaged and integrate  over 20,000 youths across the State.

According to him, within the year in review, ActionAid Nigeria was able to achieve community response team, to identify any point of conflict to avoid it from escalating.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Director of Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development, PIBCID, Halima Oiza Sadiq, explained that the ‘Religious Dialogue Meeting’ under the SARVE II Project was aimed at decreasing vulnerability and risk of young men and women using Religious Leaders, while promoting community systems and structures that address violent extremism and strengthen peace building mechanism.

A cross section of participants at the dialogue

Speaking at the event, the Kogi East  Zonal Coordinator of Jamaatu Nasril Islam, JNI, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, opined that the Europeans over the years, misled the government, stressing that Christian and Islamic religions, should be made compulsory for admission to tertiary institutions.

He said if made compulsory, the present violent extremism witnessed today in the country will be minimal.

Delivering a lecture on religious tolerance, Christian and Islam; Experience Sharing, the Lokoja Koton Karfe Coordinator of Jamaatu Nasril Islam, JNI, Alhaji Mohammed Wandana, told the gathering that adherents of both religions must coexist to put an end to youth restiveness and violence extremism in Nigeria.

The Islamic cleric, admonished Christians and Muslims to always practice what they preach and not to deviate from the teachings of Almighty God. 

According him, no Nation can develop in the absence of peace, security of lives and properties, and religious tolerance.

In a related development, the Kogi State Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Assistant Secretary Rev Frank Paul Oluwatimileyin, who delivered a lecture on 'Culture of Peace through Community Engagement and Dialogue as Religious Leaders', lamented on the high rate of killings in the country.

While calling for the implementation of Faith in peace building, Rev Oluwatimileyin, maintained that the two major Religions in Nigeria share major ideologies, which are symbols of peace, love, humanitarian service and respect for each other. 

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