By Longtong Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Religious preachers in Nigeria have been charged to see the need to always propagate the importance of religious tolerance and respect, as a way of advancing the process of peaceful co-existence between followers of different religions.
The Zonal Director, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Kaduna, Abba Zayyan, gave the charge when he led other management staff of the Organization to receive the Kaduna Team of Global Peace Foundation Nigeria at his office in Kaduna, North-west Nigeria.
He said, there is the need for followers of the two major religions in the country (Christianity and Islam) to be equipped with the necessary information on what unites than what divide them; stressing also that, since religion was a personal thing, everyone is free to practice the faith he wishes; hence, there is the need for a change in attitude of those who see others of different faith with them as outcasts.
“I want to specifically commend Global Peace Foundation for its role in promoting peaceful co-existence and reducing the level of mistrust amongst the followers of different faiths. We as a corporation will partner with you and any other organisation whose work centres on peace for the overall growth of our nation,” Zayyan said.
Earlier, the Northern coordinators, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, Rev. John Joseph Hayab and Shiekh Halliru Abdullahi Maraya said the purpose of the visit was to introduce the Foundation and its activities to the organization; and also seek for partnership in propagating the vision and message of ‘One Family Under God’ campaign through the grass root.
They explained that, since all humans are descendants of Adam and Eve, it therefore means we are members of the same ancestral parents, pointing out that, when we begin to think on that direction, there won’t be any need to fight with your brother.
“Global Peace Foundation Nigeria is currently using Kaduna State as a pilot state in its intervention programme and is currently working in twelve communities of the state in the first and second phase of its programme,” Shiekh Halliru Abdullahi Maraya noted.
Receiving the Team also at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Kaduna Network Centre, the representative of the Zonal Director, Ameen Yahaya, said though NTA is partially commercialized, the centre will partner with the Global Peace Foundation as a way of contributing its quota to the progress of the society.
He commended the initiative of the Foundation in promoting oneness and disabusing the mind of people against extremism and other threats to peaceful co-existence and challenged it not to be deterred.
The Team were also at the Kaduna Centre of DAAR Communications, owners and operators of AIT/ Ray power Radio, and while receiving them, the Head AIT/Ray power Kaduna Centre, Bala Sa’ad, noted that peace is priceless; hence, all hands should be on deck towards promoting and sustaining it.
