By Bayo Agboola
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Sultan of Sokoto and co-chairman of Nigeria Interfaith Council, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Daniel Okoh, have preached religious tolerance among Nigerians to have united Nigeria.
Others include former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
The stakeholders spoke Wednesday in Ibadan, Oyo state, at the World Interfaith Harmony Week Conference and Award, an event aimed at fostering peace and understanding among diverse faith communities.
They said Nigeria needed to be in peace and harmony for the nation to unite and move forward.
The event, which was organised by Honor 103.5 FM and Pan-af Publishers, in collaboration with the United Nations, had its theme: “The Love of the Good and The Love of the Neighbours,” with a sub-theme of “Peace for Our Time.”
Obasanjo said all religions preach true love and tolerance, adding that there can’t be peace without true love.
He said it is the collective responsibility of all Nigerians for the nation to be in peace which should not be left alone for someone.
In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto said “if Nigerians can come together as one despite their differences, we can have a better society because most of the problems the nation is having have to do with a lack of understanding particularly when it comes to religion and ethnicity.”
He described the gathering as a clarion call on all Nigerians to have tolerance, love each other, and stand with themselves.
