Interfaith urges politicians to shun hate, dangerous speeches

The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) has urged
politicians to shun hate and dangerous speeches in their campaigns, to actualise their political
ambitions in the next general elections.
Ahead of its two-day conference scheduled for Abuja on Wednesday, the Forum
admonished Nigerians to put the nation first in expressing group and regional concerns
in peaceful language within the ambit of the law where those concerns were genuine.
IDFP is a national interfaith and intercultural dialogue forum, whose patrons are the
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Supo Ayokunle.
It has the peaceful co-existence of all government recognised
religions as well as ethnic groups in Nigeria as its central objective.
In a statement jointly signed by the Co-chairmen of IDFP, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni and Bishop Sunday Onuoha in Abuja on Tuesday, the Forum said it observed that preparatory events
of the past months had slackened “our
national security and stylishly dictates the political dimensions”.
“However, the interfaith communities, with the largest constituencies, resolved to calm
our faithful and entrenched the culture of togetherness and good neighborliness.
“As a mandate and our utmost interest, we continue to explore all avenue to stabilise
the heated polity, by creating and sustaining political education, awareness and national
ethical standard that abhors intimidation and violence.
“Our message is urging Nigerians to shun hate and dangerous speeches, especially at
political parties’ campaigns and rallies.
“Where regional and group concerns are
genuine, we urge that those concerns should be expressed in peaceful language and
within the ambit of the law.”
The Forum urged Nigerians to work harder to make the country habitable for all and
sundry.
“We have come a long way in interdependence that we must not allow political
expediency, greed, pride and selfishness to blind our vision of one united and peaceful
Nigeria.
“Religion has remained a central factor in every election both periodical and national,
and recent development has added the national security as a cognizance part of
democratic process through election,” it stated
It added that the coming together of faith communities had achieved the purpose of securing a coordinated voice and response to challenges of protecting and promoting
national security from the dangerous effects of saturated electoral campaigns and
activities.
“We call on all religious-based authorities to embark on re-training of clerics and
inculcate the culture of tolerance and mutual respect in their worship life.
“Nigeria has grown to the extent that no singular religion can dominate the entire landscape; all
religions and ethnicity would thrive and benefit the people.
“We enjoin politicians and public servants to desist from instigating religious and
ethnic tensions.
“They should rather concentrate on good governance anchored on
justice, equity and respect for human rights in order to achieve a conducive atmosphere
for development,” the forum added.