Religious leaders at the 2023 NIREC 4th quarter meeting in Abuja
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The Nigeria Inter-religious Council, NIREC, has stressed that good governance and patriotism are keys to reversing the trend of migration of citizens to other countries in search of greener pastures otherwise known as ‘japa’.
The co-chairmen of NIREC, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence Archbishop Daniel Okoh were speaking at the 4th quarter 2023 meeting of the council on Tuesday in Abuja.
The theme of the meeting is “Restoration of Hope in Nigeria”.
NIREC co-chairmen emphasised the need for the country’s leadership to find ways to restore hope of citizens. They also agreed that the many challenges currently facing the country can be surmounted only if Nigerians embrace patriotism.
Sa’ad who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) stated that despite the country’s challenges, it is still far better than many other countries that citizens are running to.
He however emphasised the need for prayers for the leadership of the country.
He said, “We must love our country. We must be very patriotic. We cannot just everyday condemn the country in its entirety. Visit other countries and see how things work also. We are much more better off. We must admit that yes, we have problems in our country but we are much more better off.
“We must pray for our leaders. If you pray for leaders who do good things, you will enjoy the benefits. As religious leaders, we must talk to our people never to lose hope because God does not sleep.
“That Almighty knows what he wants to do and he will do it the way he wants and at the time he wants. If there are challenges or there are difficulties, let’s rise up, come together, pray to Almighty to reduce this pressure that we are facing, not only in our country, not only in our homes but everywhere”.
On his part, the CAN President stated that Nigeria is blessed with abundance of human and natural resources more than many nations of the world but requires the right management.
According to him, “We must get to that level where Nigerians will be convinced to have faith in those in governance. For this to happen, we must all develop a culture where transparency and accountability are celebrated. A system where public officers are held accountable for their actions and inactions during their tenure in office or after leaving office.
“Hope is an extraordinary force that has the power to transcend decisions, heal wounds and ignites positive change. It lays the foundation for a brighter future, enabling us to overcome hurdles and chart a course towards progress and prosperity. The restoration of hope therefore is not merely the responsibility of the government or a particular religious group but a shared mission that requires an unwavering commitment and collaboration.
“I stand here to emphasise that hope can be the catalyst for positive transformation but it requires deliberate efforts and unifying action.”
Archbishop Okoh also urged religious leaders to create bridges of understanding towards a common vision of hope and embrace initiatives that support peaceful coexistence.
“As leaders representing the major religions in Nigeria, we must foster an environment that promotes harmony, tolerance and mutual respect by recognising the shared values that underpin all major religions. We can create bridges of all understanding and work towards a common vision of hope. Let us therefore be ready to defend the freedom of religion and belief not just for ourselves but for others who may not necessarily be of the same faith or religion or region with us.
“It is our duty to encourage and support initiatives that prioritize peace building, conflict resolution and the equitable distribution of resources by working together beyond any religious or ethnic barriers, we can rebuild the moral fabrics of our nation and restore the hope of Nigerians so that the trend of migration can be reversed in no distant time”, he added.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume said governments at all levels need the cooperation of religious leaders to restore human dignity to citizens.
He charged religious leaders to educate their followers on the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence.
The SGF assured that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will address the issue of hunger and poverty responsible for the rising trend of migration in the country.
“Religion is very sensitive and volatile hence religious leaders should at all times encourage religious preachers to emphasise what can promote mutual understanding while the political leaders work for the common goal of welfare of the people.
“I therefore call on Nigeria citizens to trust that the incumbent administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will do all that it takes to address the challenges of hunger, poverty and the human natural resources. Nigerians have no reason to live in penury. We are laying the foundation that will put smiles on the faces of its citizens. This is why we called for a Renewed Hope. Let us live in unity to a point that though tongue and tribe may differ, in unity we must stand.
“Every Nigerian is a stakeholder to national development by having a change of attitude and renewed mentality. This change of attitude and hope in Nigeria will stop the Nigerian youth from running away from their native land to voluntarily offering themselves as free slaves through the Sahara, Mediterranean and Atlantic human trafficking”, he added.
