By Stanley Onyekwere
Religious leaders all over Nigeria have been urged to eschew primordial sentiments with a view to help enthrone harmony and peaceful co-existence among the legion of tribes and religions across the land.
A notable man of God, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Anyembugu, made the clarion call following the inter-faith seminar on peaceful co-existence held at Arewa house, Kaduna recently, in which Christian and Islamic leaders featured prominently.
“Both of our major religions (Christianity and Islam) preach peace and love for one another, and such admonition is particularly invaluable to us as a nation at this critical period,” remarked Anyembugu, the parish priest of St. Sylvester’s Catholic Church, New Nyanya, Nassarawa state.
The cleric, who was the lead speaker at the well-attended event, spoke against the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast region. He lamented the paradoxical situation whereby religions which symbolize peace are being cleverly manipulated as instruments of violence and terrorism by compatriots who ought to know better.
Rev. Fr. Anyembugu while recalling the theme of the World Youth congress which he attended in Brazil last year, admonished religious leaders to “not only preach peace but go the extra mile to pursue and/or “plant” seeds of peace across our fatherland, for our common good.”
According to the Reverend who is also a motivational speaker and author, only by imbibing virtues such as the fear of God, good governance and justice can Nigeria thrive.
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