Nigerians have been charged to let what they profess in their faith to reflect in the way they run the affairs of governance to create love for a better society.
The Special Adviser to the Ekiti state governor, Alhaji Engr. Hon. Jinadu Yinusa Olalekan made this declaration at a one day interreligious dialogue workshop organized by Cardinal Onaiyekan in collaboration with Ibrahim Olalekan Shodehinde, held at NASFAT auditorium in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
The theme of the workshop is “Empowering Religious and and Community leaders as gatekeepers of and Champions Towards Addressing interreligious conflict Peace Building and conflict management.
He said people should change their paradigm of looking at one other with animosity and suspicion but tend to understand themselves deeper to give themsselves respect along the persuasion of individuals.
” It is from there that a lot of misconceptions will be cleared. But when you keep to yourself and you are not ready to move out of your boundary to look at how my neighbour thinks and what he thinks or what he believes then we are bound to offend ourselves and live with one another in suspicion which is not healthy for an egalitarian society,” he noted.
Junaid sensitised participants on the five fundamentals of Islam, which included ; uncompromising Monotism, Zakat of purification, fasting and holy pilgrimage to Mekkah.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Imam of Akure Kingdom, Alhaji Abdul Hakeem Yayi-Akorede observed disparity in the appointment of the christians against muslims in the governance of Ondo state.
This, he pointed should have been queried by the Christians to ask if Muslims are not in the state in spite of the fact that muslims occupied between 40 to 45 percent of the population of Ondo state.
He noted that human beings are special to God because he called for dialogue between the being and the angels before their creation which he traced to the importance of the programme which is aimed at arriving at mutual understanding to create love and for the progress of the society.
He believed that religious leaders should be given special preference because they are those who pray for the success of government and the entire people around.
Speaking on the tenets of Christianity, the Head of Legal Department of Justice Development and Peace Center, Barrister Valentine Agabi said christians believe in trinity of God, who is the father, son and the Holy spirit.
He said God described Himself as the ” I am that I am”, No end and no beginning which are some of the attributes held on to as the tenets.
He said Jesus took the again for ribute in of man to have escuer men and that they believe in his resurrection three days after his death.
He also noted that Christians believe in the holy spirit which he said is an expression of God himself communicated through the prophet and as well believe in Baptism.
He also reeled out other believes to include in words of God, the Bible as the word of God, in good deeds, we believe in our holy lives and setting examples for Christ.
Reacting, Priest of Anglican church, Akure , Revd. Cannon Victor Ifeoluwa Adeola, described the programme as an eye opener for a people to understand the fact that people don’t need to be fighting one another.
He said Christians don’t see him as God alone, we see him as God and Man. But that Muslim faithfuls don’t see Jesus as God, they see him as a means to God.
The priest who represented the Chairman of Christians Association ion of Nigeria CAN, Ondo State chapter, The Very Revd Father Ologunwa reacted to Akorede’s claim as very important but that human beings cannot satisfy themselves.
To him, there may not be close Muslim allys whom he can entrust with such offices and have his own genuine reasons why he has done that.
He said they should embrace Muslims, and not say every appointment should go to the Christians, they should employ Muslims and even pagans who are faithful and willing to work to push the society forward.
In an Opening remarks, Ibrahim Olalekan Shodehinde said the interreligious dialogue would let people understand that there would be no peace in the community without peace among the religions.
While declaring that one of the biggest challenges for contemporary society is violent abuse of religion which threatens peaceful co-existence everywhere, Shodehinde believed that collaborative effort will facilitate peace, protecting the environment, eradicate poverty and ensuring the human dignity of all.
A pastor in The Redeemed Christian church of God, Pastor Egunjobi Johnson Oladele, expressed satisfaction on the development appealing that such dialogue should be organized at a larger gathering.
He said Akorede’s observation was right and the truth saying that If the type of love that is existing between him and other religious leaders is extended to the grassroots, it will be a joyful thing.
Also, the Imam of Ansar-ud- deen, Imam Mikail Modupeola said religious believers are complicating issues which needs to be addressed.
” It is only God that can change the situation religions has been existing before man and will exit after man. It is only God that knows how to address situation in the world,” he said.
