As the 2019 General Elections approach, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has admonished the youth to shun any politician who attempts to use them to ferment crises.
Director-General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari gave the advice at an Inter-faith Dialogue for Peaceful Co-existence and National Development organized by the Agency at the palace of the Emir of Suleja.
Represented by the Director, Documentation, Translation and Publication, Mr. Davidson Aminu (in brown), Abari also urged mothers to bring their influence to bear on their children in order to draw them away from the lure of violence. He also called on traditional and religious leaders to intensify the sensitization of their followers on the imperative of peaceful co-existence in national development.
The Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim represented by Honourable Rabiu Ishiak stressed the need for Nigerians not to allow religion come between us because we are all brothers. He said religion should rather bring us together to appropriate God’s sense of variety rather than divide us.
Resource persons at the event highlighted various aspects of citizens’ responsibility towards entrenching peace in the community. Mallam Abubakar Musa Tanko who spoke from the Islamic perspective observed that without peace, no Muslim can properly practice his religion given that the Holy Quran stipulates peace as a precondition for the performance of most religious obligations. He therefore enjoined all faithful to continue living in peace with others, irrespective of their faith.
From the Christian perspective, Rev. Danladi Dodo noted that love is the most authentic proof of piety, adding that when love is practiced by all, none will hurt his neighbour. He therefore urged all Nigerians to always look out for their neighbours because whatever endangers one endangers all.
The Suleja Divisional Police Officer, Mohammed A. Mohammed in his submission called for the elevation of the role of community heads in conflict resolution, noting that their interventions can nip crisis in the bud and reduce the burden on security agencies.