NACOMYO wants NIREC in states

National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) has advocated the establishment of Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The organisation has also called for the resuscitation of the Inter-faith body at the national level which, it said has been moribund and passive so as to “promote Inter-faith harmony and minimize religious agitations in the country”.

According to NACOMYO in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday, the existence of the proposed NIREC “will facilitate amicable resolution of religious and sensitive issues and help douse tension that may arise from religious orchestrated clamour.”

The group decried the seemingly rivalry between the adherents of Islam and Christians and urged those who feel agitated over any issue to pursue the matter to its conclusion in the apex court.

The statement, issued by the organisation’s National President, Alh. Kamaldeen Akintunde, noted that the constitution guarantees freedom of worship and charged those at the helm of affairs to ensure good governance “within the framework of the country’s statutory book”.

“There is no doubt that the country is multi-religious, multi-ethnic and pluralistic by natural design which the constitution has taken cognizance by providing that “no state shall adopt any religion as state religion”, the statement stressed.

“The onus therefore lies on the citizens to eschew religious bigotry, acrimony and unnecessary rivalry in their divine favour-seeking endeavours”, Akintunde affirmed.

He then charged religious institutions to justify their relevance to nation building through supplications, spiritual guidance, exemplariness, proactive collaboration and cooperation and above all, patriotism.

NACOMYO also enjoined governments to ensure fair play attitude, equity and justice among all religions, noting that such virtues would promote peace and inter-faith harmony, fundamental to national development.