Religion should not be a dividing factor in Nigeria, says Osinbajo

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has stated that religion and tribal affiliations should not be dividing factors in the country, saying Muslims and Christians are seen as one people and they should treat themselves as such.

Osinbajo, who spoke at the Ahamadiya Muslim Jama’at, Nigeria 66th Jalsa Salana, in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, commended the Jama’at, for promoting peace and unity among Nigerians and other part of the world.

Noting that religious tolerance among each other is a prerequisite for the country’s socio-economic and political development, he said: “Our country is one, people want to create division between Muslims, Christians and tribes. God does not see us as tribes, he sees us all as one. I thank Ahmadiyya Muslim group in particular because you preach the message of peace, Nigeria will be great with people like you”, he said.

The President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Nigeria, Dr Mas’ud Adenrele Fashola, commended Buhari’s leadership style and system of government and assured of the group’s support in the coming election.

Fashola, during his lecture on “Self purification and submission to Allah as a prerequisite for reformation” said: “The reformation and salvation of mankind will have to be spearheaded by a reformed divine community or people of exemplary moral and spiritual virtues through whom mankind would be reformed and saved.

“The extent to which we have such self reformed men and women will determined the extent to which mankind will be saved from calamities. So if we cannot produce a good number of those who achieves self-reformation, the world faces grave dangers of destruction. Such destruction will wipe out the most diabolic among mankind and preserve the most God fearing and pure.

“But if we desire to save a lot of mankind, we have to start with ourselves by striving to achieve self reformation and nearness to Allah, so that the lord of mercy, majesty and might will save mankind through the prayers of the righteous and the influence of their exemplary moral and spiritual conduct” he said.

Fashola added that, in Nigeria, as in other parts of the world, evils have assumed unprecedented proportions as a result of tremendous corruption in governance, unscrupulous and fraudulent practices in business, the politicalisation and commercialisation of religion and as a result of widespread immorality, dishonesty and materialism or worship of mammon.

In such an atmosphere, he said there was a dire need for a divine community who should have reformed themselves and so be in the best position to bring about moral and spiritual reformation through their prayers and exemplary conduct.

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosu, urged Muslims to tolerate people of other faiths as enjoined in the holy Quran.

Amosun, who was represented by Surajudeen Adekanbi, said: “As Muslims, we must apply the teachings in the holy Quran in our dealings. One of the most important aspects of the human rights issue is the respect and tolerance which we must show towards the people of other faith,”

The Prominent Ruler of Yewa Land, Oba Kehinde Adegbenle,
commended the group describing Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at as one of the peaceful religion organization in Nigeria.

The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Yewa South, Moses Padoun, commend the group on peaceful coexistence with other faiths in Yewa South. He advised religious organisatiion to desist from religion bigotry and discrimination among people of other faiths.