The
Nigeria Inter Religious Council NIREC held its first quarterly meeting
this year in Uyo. The venue of the event was the Le Meridiene Golf
Resort, Uyo the Akwa Ibom capital from February 11- 13 2013. The road
from the airport to the city was straight and smooth. It was free of
potholes and other distractions. The streets were clean and the schools
we drove past were well maintained. The transformation of the state
capital was remarkable and visitors coming to the state cannot help but
notice it. Members were received on arrival by Professor Is-haq
Oloyede, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and
National Coordinator of NIREC.
The fifty members of NIREC who
attended the event under the Co-Chairmanship of the Sultan of Sokoto,
who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for
Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar,
and the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo
Oritsejafor, paid a courtesy call on the Governor of the State, Dr
Godswill Akpabio at the Government House and were introduced to the
Governor and members of his Executive Council. From there they
proceeded to the Ibom Hall in the heart of the city for the opening
ceremony which was attended by a cross section of the Muslim and
Christian community in Akwa Ibom.
In his welcome address, the Governor
said his administration has focused on meeting the needs of the people,
promoting social justice and non discrimination. Education is free for
all children of those residing in the state. As he spoke, the audience
cheered and sang his praises as a detribalised leader of the people.
A paper titled “International
Relations and Terrorism” was presented by Professor Samuel Egwu, an
accomplished political scientist from the of the University of Jos. The
paper explored the international dimensions of terrorism and
highlighted the relationship between violence and underdevelopment. He
underscored the fact that peace and security are necessary ingredients
for the sustenance of democratic principles and economic development of
the country. Prof Egwu said equity and justice are the basis of peace in
any society and emphasised that the outbreak of political violence is
strongly associated with poverty, underdevelopment and mal-distribution
of resources. An interactive session followed the presentation where the
NIREC Co Chairmen responded to issues from the audience. They called on
the people to promote interfaith harmony and unity among the various
groups, emphasizing that God had a purpose in bringing all the diverse
people of this country together.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, NIREC observed as follows:
- No religion teaches violence;
-The persistent loss of lives and
property occasioned by acts of terrorism, pipeline vandalisation,
communal strife, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, political and
religious intolerance in several parts of this country have become very
worrisome; These acts of terrorism and the attendant problems have
assumed frightening dimension threatening the cordial relationship
between two main religions in the country thereby working against
national unity and cohesion
-The sacredness of human life must be safeguarded at all times;
-The Council remains an essential
medium in addressing issues that affect the corporate existence of
Nigeria as an inseparable entity.
-Religious and Traditional leaders
have critical and major roles to play in promoting political harmony,
peace, stability and correcting societal ills;
-NIREC therefore:
-Reiterated its appeals to political,
religious and traditional leaders at all levels to desist from making
offensive and divisive comments capable of heating up the polity;
-Urged political, traditional and
religious leaders to imbibe the spirit of courage to speak the truth
at all times, be forthright in all their utterances and demand
accountability from the Governments at all levels;
-Appealed to both Muslim and Christian
religious and traditional leaders to make concerted efforts to reach
out to the citizenry in order to dissuade them from intolerance.
Recommended continuous interfaith dialogue amongst adherents of the major religious.
On the Acts of Terrorism, Violence and
Vandalism, NIREC condemned in strong terms the orgies of terrorism,
violence and vandalism that have permeated the country and calls on the
perpetrators to desist from their evil deeds;
-It also condemned the vicious attack
on HRH Alhaji Dr Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano and his entourage and
called for a halt of such dastardly acts;
-Expressed concern on the killing of
the 10 health workers in Kano, Kano State, and the killing of 3 North
Korean doctors in Postikum, Yobe State; the doctors were discharge of
their duties and commiserated with the families of the those killed and
prayed that they be strengthened in their moments of grief. The Council
the called on the Federal, State and Local Governments to detect, expose
and prosecute those responsible for these reprehensible acts;
-NIREC also expressed concern about
preachers who promote hate and violence urging that such preachers
should be identified and appropriately prosecuted;
-The Council then called on the
Federal Government to exhibit the political will to tackle all forms of
security challenges using its relevant agencies;
-It called for the establishment of
Police Community Relations Committees where they do not presently exist
adding that security agencies should be appropriately funded, the
personnel adequately trained, equipped and motivated at all times for
maximum results.
-The Council recommended that
inter-service collaboration should be encouraged for effective and
efficient results and urged Governments to focus on designing and
implementing pro-poor policies and developing an inclusive framework
that integrates the poor and the vulnerable into the process of
decision-making in order to discourage terrorism.
-On the ongoing review of the
Constitution, NIREC appealed to the National Assembly to let the will of
the people prevail and urged the legislators to make laws that would
ensure that no Nigerian is made a “Settler” anywhere in the country.
On corruption, NIREC strongly
condemned the extent at which corruption has eaten deep into the polity
and urged Governments at all levels to put in place strategies that
would ensure that corrupt people are severely punished. It also urged
Government to promote good governance and be accountable to the people.
DailyTrust
